Some carousel advertisements from the 19th century stated that the ride was highly recommended by physicians as an aid in circulating the blood.

During the "golden age" of the carousel, nearly 7,000 machines with wooden figures were crafted. Today, approximately 200 remain.

The earliest known use of the term merry-go-round is found in a poem written by Englishman George Alexander Stevens in 1729.

In the early 1940s, Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered that Britain's carousels be reopened, despite widespread material shortages, in an effort to boost morale during World War II.

Along with roller coasters, carousels are the oldest amusement rides still in use.