Arts & Culture
At the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Monterey Bay, the 1911 Looff Carousel and the 1924 Giant Dipper form a joint National Historic Landmark and rank among the oldest surviving beachfront amusement attractions on the West Coast. The boardwalk, founded in 1907 by Fred W. Swanton, has operated continuously, keeping both rides in their original oceanfront setting. The carousel, one of only six intact Looff carousels in the United States, retains 73 unique horses, two chariots, a brass ring dispenser, and historic band organs. The Giant Dipper, built by Arthur Looff, is a rare surviving wooden scaffolded roller coaster and one of the boardwalk’s defining sights.
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Santa Cruz, California · United States
