October 22, 2024 Meet Todd Goings, the 2024 National Heritage Fellow who keeps carousels spinning!

A conversation with Todd Goings, a 2024 National Heritage Fellow renowned for his work restoring and building carousels. Goings shares stories from his early days in woodworking, his path to becoming a master of carousel restoration with a shop, Carousels and Carvings, that employs 18 artisans, and the lasting impact of his craftsmanship. He reflects on the magic of carousels and how his work preserves these historic treasures for future generations.

Goings walks us through his journey, from pounding nails into woodblocks as a child to becoming a master artisan in carousel restoration. His early experiences in woodworking, combined with a love for building, led him to a career preserving the intricate mechanisms and art of century-old carousels. Goings also discusses his recent honor as a National Heritage Fellow, the joy of sharing his work with other fellows, and the deep personal satisfaction that comes from maintaining these living pieces of art and history.  See a video the Arts Endowment produced about Todd Goings work with carousels here!