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Great Northern Carousel
924 Bicentenial Plaza
Helena, MT 59601
406-457-5353

Great Northern Town Center in Downtown Helena

The Great Northern Carousel is a modern hand built menagerie carousel reminiscent of the splendid, turn-of-the-century carousels. Most of the 37 animals and one chariot were hand-carved by Ed Roth of Long Beach, California and hand painted by Bette Largent of Spokane, Washington. Todd Goings built the mechanism in Marion, Ohio and also built the spinning tub for the carousel. And, local artist Mary Harris created the original glass artwork depicting Helena area landmarks and scenery on the Carousel rounding boards. Besides the traditional horses, frogs and rabbits, there are native Montana wildlife such as antelope, a grizzly bear, bobcats, a buffalo, and even a cutthroat trout! Connected to the 40’ carousel is the Great Northern Ice Cream Company featuring homemade ice cream and fudge. The Gift Shop offers a wide array of gifts, toys and collectibles for people of all ages. Plus, there is a party room to rent for any occasion imaginable such as birthdays, anniversaries or even hosting fund-raisers. Carousels originated over 900 years ago as a game utilizing perfumed balls played by the soldiers as they rode their horses in a circle. The game was called “Carosella” or “little war” in Spanish. And in France it was referred to as “Carrousell”. The first carousels were created in the US by talented and skilled immigrants in the late 1800’s. By 1930 Nearly 5,000 hand-carved wooden carousels had been produced. Fewer than 150 exist today in the United States and we are happy to be a part of that select group! In fact, The Great Northern Carousel is one of the finest, hand-built Carousels in the world and, the most beautiful, if we don’t say so ourselves! And, what sets us apart even more, is that all of our Montana indigenous animals have been specifically designed and created for The Great Northern Carousel. Many local and national artists came together to make this Carousel a reality and an amazing work of art. What started out as a dream of the Great Northern Town Center Developer and owner of the Carousel, Alan Nicholson, has become a place where everyone is welcome to enjoy the Carousel animals, the nostalgia of the classic styled pavilion and the most incredible homemade ice cream within hundreds of miles! The Great Northern Carousel was built in the Great Northern Town Center; this exciting new mixed-use development is located where the original railroad spur entered the center of Helena. The Great Northern Town Center anchors the north end of the downtown and is adjacent to the campus of Carroll College, the Federal Complex and Helena’s Civic Center. This planned unit development accommodates residences, offices, a bank, a hotel and a variety of shops and restaurants. The development is tied together with a network of open common areas designed for pedestrians, creating places to socialize and enjoy the community. The best ideas of contemporary and traditional community design have been blended together, creating a unique living, working and shopping environment with a strong sense of community found in other historic areas and neighborhoods within Helena. About the Artists: Ed Roth , from California hand-carved our animals using basswood & a lot of imagination. Among Ed’s clients are the Disney Company. Bette Largent, from Spokane gave life & color to our critters. Her painting style & skill have been nationally acclaimed. Todd Goings, spent weeks in Helena setting up and fine tuning the carousel Machine he built in his shop in Ohio. Mary Harris, local artist, produced the wonderful glass-fired Helena-area scenes depicted on the rounding boards. She developed this unique style of artistry. Dale Livezey, a well known local artist, did double duty on this project. When he wasn’t painting the vibrant interior and exterior colors of the building, he was creating and painting the designs that embellish the atrium walls. Bill Borneman & Kasey Bergum, used great care and detail in making the interior and exterior paint colors interesting, fun & lively. And, they continue to help keep it updated. Chuck Kaparich, was a consultant on the Carousel and located many of the artisans that produced such beautiful work. He also designed the upper center surrounds and did most of the lighting on the Carousel. He is the “father” of the Missoula Carousel. Paul Nicholson was the construction supervisor for the structure which houses the Carousel. He managed all aspects of the construction and worked and coordinated with all of artists. From the moment you step into the Great Northern Carousel pavilion, you know you’re in for an incredible experience. With its classic Ice Cream Parlor look, exquisite stained-glass light fixtures and windows, swirled marble table tops, bright colors and modern conveniences, The Great Northern Ice Cream Company is sure to “wow” even the most experienced Ice Cream novice. The incredible selection of homemade Ice Cream flavors will please your palette with such flavors as Flathead Cherry and Griz Grub Huckleberry, reflecting the fruits of Montana! Our creamy premium homemade Ice Cream is made with fresh ingredients right here in the Great Northern Town Center. Our snack bar is a great option for a quick lunch, treat or snack. And, whether or not you’re a chocolate lover, our homemade fudge will make your mouth water. Stop in and indulge today! It’s Party Central! What’s your occasion? It doesn’t matter…the Carousel is the perfect place for your next event. From Birthday parties, to baby showers, to office gatherings and Graduation parties, come to the Carousel to celebrate. We offer various party packages to make your party planning easy. Come party with the coolest animals in town at the Carousel! Shopping has never been more fun! If you’re into baking and want to special touch, we’ve got sauces and jams from Eva Gates. If you’re a young archeologist looking for your next expedition, we’ve got the perfect dinosaur dig projects to keep you searching for clues to the past. Love stuffed animals…we’ve got a huge selection of the cutest, cuddliest creatures around. Are you a collector? We have carousel collectibles for beginners or those that have been gathering forever. Looking for greeting cards or postcards? We’ve got a great selection. How about Great Northern Carousel mementos? We’ve got magnets, stickers, pins, t-shirts, sweatshirts and much more to help you remember your Carousel experience. Let the shopping begin today! We’re your one-stop-shop for everything fun for kids and adults of all ages.