The Golden Gate Park carousel lay just behind the Sharon Art Studio. This carousel was created by Herschell-Spillman in 1888, and restored in 1977.

The Golden Gate Park Carousel was closed on that Thursday, so nobody was riding it. These pictures of the animals were taken through the surrounding glass windows.

A giraffe wore a gold medal around its neck and had a fancy fringed saddle. Behind the giraffe was a tall ostrich.

A dramatic blue and gray horse reared up as if being blown from behind by a fierce wind.

A two-humped camel walked in a stately manner as if a character taken directly from Arabian stories.

A silver horse, with grey and black spots, raised one leg as if performing a trick. It wore a bandana tied around its neck.

A goat galloped next to a rooster.

A stately lion looked regal in its outrageously stylized mane.

A griffin lunged forward with its curved talons. It was balanced on its curved fish-like tail.

A horse looked ready for battle, wearing its plated armor.

A crane and a rooster each walked with a bar. This sounds almost like the start of a joke.

A green blotched white horse walked next to a brown striped zebra.

A tiger wore a saddle that featured a flying woman reaching forward toward chains on the tiger's neck.

The prices for riding the carousel were posted on a window. At $2 for an adult and $1 for a child, this carousel was a bargain.

A nearby building sold snacks and carousel tickets.

The building housing the carousel was surrounded by tall windows. Sadly the carousel was closed when these photographs were taken.