The mission of the "Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel" Project is to
                                           bring Butte people and civic resources together to construct and operate
                                           a hand-carved carousel reminiscent of what we remember about the
                                           Columbia Gardens. The focus of the project is to reclaim, restore and
                                           preserve an important part of Butte's history, teach the dying art of
                                           hand-carving horses and embellishments.  We will enhance the quality
                                           of community by providing present and future generations with a unique
                                           opportunity to enjoy the simple pleasure working and having fun together.
                                           The project also provides the starting point for future park and
                                           recreational facilities that will enhance tourism in Butte and the rest
                                           of the state of Montana.
 

                                                From the early 1900's to 1973, the mining community of Butte, Montana,
                                           had one bright spot in an otherwise, mostly industrial, drab environment.
                                           The community enjoyed a beautiful park and playground area known as the
                                           Columbia Gardens. A small amusement park was the crown jewel of this
                                           garden spot and the center stone of the amusement park was a glorious
                                           carousel complete with hand-carved horses, a band organ, hand carved
                                           chariots, and an elegant canopy with hand carved mirror frames and
                                           gargoyles. The carousel consisted of 42 beautifully hand-carved and
                                           ornately painted horses.  The carousel was purchased for the people of
                                           Butte by W. A. Clark in 1923.  W.A. Clark was one of the Copper Kings of
                                           the late 1800's and early 1900's.  He made his fortune in the mines of Butte
                                           and gave the one-company town some pleasure by the development of the
                                           Columbia Gardens and the purchase of such things as the carousel.
                                           Hand painted carousels were and art form developed in the United States
                                           by such men as A.B.Hershell and W. Spillman, and utilizing the talents of
                                           the many immigrants who came to America at that time.
                                               The people of Butte enjoyed the Park and the Carousel more than any
                                           other pastime.  Generations of families, many of them of immigrant blood,
                                           of people  who came from Europe to work in the mines, played and
                                           laughed and found pleasure in this beautiful spot.
                                               In 1973 the Columbia Gardens and the amusement park and all the
                                           beautiful amusement park equipment was shut down by a large company
                                           to make room for more open pit mining. The citizens were given one last day
                                           to touch the beautiful hand painted horses and to take one more ride before
                                           the carousel was  shut down.  The carousel was dismantled and put in
                                           storage. While in storage it mysteriously burned up.  Some say it was an
                                           accident, some say not.  Now, through the efforts of many hard working
                                           volunteers, "The Spirit of  Columbia Gardens Carousel" organization is
                                           in the process of building a new hand carved, ornately painted and
                                           decorated carousel for the citizens of all ages of Butte and neighboring 
                                           communities.  Our volunteers have learned the skills necessary to create
                                           works of art, skills like designing, glue-up, carving and painting.
                                           Volunteers are working in our gift shop, doing technical research,
                                           restoring the mechanical workings of the carousel, and raising funds.
                                               Our carousel will depict the historical and ethnic past of our community
                                           it's citizens who have resided here for generations.  It will honor
                                           people who have made it possible as well as to give pleasure to
                                           those generations to come.

                                                            THE CAROUSEL ORGANIZATION

                                                    In the fall of 1973, the Columbia Gardens amusement park near Butte
                                            closed to make way for mining interests. Columbia Gardens had been a
                                            very special place for folks to come together and have fun since 1899
                                            when the Gardens were founded.  Butte people were angry and sad
                                            about "losing the Gardens", but also knew about making sacrifices.
                                            Twenty-three years later, Butte's "can do' spirit and a desire to reclaim,
                                            restore, and preserve an important part of her history spawned a wonderful
                                            to build a working carousel. This carousel dream was shared with
                                            the community and very quickly, Butte long timers, short timers as well as
                                            some from neighboring communities began to turn this dream into hand
                                            carved horses, through the Spirit of Columbia Gardens project.
                                            The mission of the Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel project is to bring
                                            interested people and civic resources together to construct and operate a
                                            carousel reminiscent of the one that had been at the Columbia Gardens.
                                            This community understands Ihe importance of providing present and future
                                            generations with an enjoyable link to the past and an opportunity to
                                            experience the simple fun of riding a carousel.
                                            late 1996 as a non-profit corporation.
                                                The Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel Foundation was organized in
                                            late 1996 as a non-profit corporation.  Since that date volunteers in the form
                                            of wood workers, carvers, fundraisers, artistic designers, mechanics,
                                            painters, gift shop personnel, businesses, corporations, and media folk
                                            have joined forces to share their enthusiasm, talents, and resources.
                                            Citizens,organizations and some businesses in the surrounding area have
                                            sponsored horses and the 12 rounding boards.  The children of Butte collected
                                            one million pennies to sponsor two of the horses.  Other items remain to be
                                            sponsored.  Butte Plaza Mall has provided the project rooms where the
                                            carving is done and the completed horses are corralled.  The YMCA has
                                            provided a clean space where the painting of the horses takes place, and
                                            storage for the Columbia Gardens fire truck which will be displayed in our
                                            carousel museum.  Since the inception of the project, 18, horses have
                                            been completed, 1 horse is in the paint shop, and 5 others will be
                                            completed this year.  The 12 rounding boards have been constructed
                                            and are awaiting the final carvings and dressings.  The 24 mirror frames
                                            that attach to the rounding boards have been constructed and are
                                            ready for painting, installation of lights, mirror, and carved trim.  11 of
                                            these mirror frames have been completed. New platforms for the floor
                                            of the carousel have been constructed by the Anaconda Job Corps.
                                            A used carousel frame has been purchased and the mechanical group
                                            have spent considerable hours in restorations on the machine.
                                            During these years a committee has been diligently working on finding
                                            a suitable location for the carousel, and tentative plans have been
                                            developed for a building to house the carousel; Possible locations
                                            had been narrowed to two possibilities, when The Lady of the Rockies
                                            offered a site on the same property that the base station of the aerial tram
                                            would be located.  The Lady of the Rockies site was our first choice.