Letter to the Honorable Jonathan B. Jarvis, Director of the National Parks Service - Concerning

Letter

Jonathan B. Jarvis

Director

National Park Service

1849 C Street NW

Washington, DC 20240

Dear Director Jarvis,

I write in support of the nomination of Coney Island's B & B Carousell for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed in 1906, the B&B has been a staple of Brooklyn's Coney Island and has played a significant role in shaping much of its distinctive amusement park culture.

A masterpiece by pioneers of the Coney Island style of carving, the B&B features one of four rare horses by artist Marcus Illion. This horse was added to the carousel in 1909 to commemorate the centennial of President Abraham Lincoln's birth. Further celebrations of American iconography can be found on the carousel's rounding boards in the form of bald eagles, presidential portraits, the American flag, and the Statue of Liberty. These were painted by renowned artist August Wolfinger, who was known as the "Michelangelo of the Midway."

After a detailed restoration, the B&B has resumed operation at Coney Island's old Steeplechase Park grounds. This return is symbolic of the rebirth of Coney Island after the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy and is historically appropriate, as Steeplechase Park was the area's first and longest lasting amusement park. Inclusion of this nationally significant resource on the National Register of Historic Places will solidify this ride's great place in the history of Coney Island. Further, this much-deserved distinction will ensure that this treasured site can be eligible for critical preservation support so it can remain a staple of the region's tourism economy for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Kirsten Gillibrand

United States Senator

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