In 1967, the Smithsonian Institution’s Secretary S. Dillon Ripley planned a series of festivities to make the National Mall more welcoming to all who visited Washington, DC and the Institution’s museums. A carousel was installed in front of the Arts & Industries Building to kick off the events. That summer, visitors to the National Mall attended concerts featuring the Institution’s antique instruments and the first Smithsonian Folklife Festival. In the fall, as the weather began to cool and festivities died down, the carousel remained. It was removed in 2023 for refurbishment and for updates to the surrounding infrastructure. A reopening ceremony is on April 23 and thereafter the carousel will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A ride costs $6. smithsonian.com/carousel…