Pullen Park - History

History

Pullen Park was founded on March 22, 1887 when Richard Stanhope Pullen donated farmland to the City of Raleigh expressly to be used as a space for recreational enjoyment of citizens and visitors to Raleigh, NC. This land became Pullen Park, the first public park in North Carolina, although its founder, always shying from thanks and publicity, opposed giving it his name. A "Committee on Public Parks" was formed to oversee the transformation from farm land to landscaped park and a Park Keeper was hired in 1888 to oversee these modifications. Pullen continued his own involvement by taking part in the planning and financing of bridges, roads and paths throughout the park as well as the planting of trees and general landscaping in the park and the neighboring NC State University which was built on land also donated by him. Pullen's landscape architecture design was in keeping with the times. He also financed a round pavilion for outdoor entertainment and a fountain, located near the city's first swimming pool (for men only) in 1891. A congressman from another county donated fifty Japanese carp for the fountain which shows the significance of the park even outside of Raleigh. In 1895 modifications to the structure and use of the pool allowed for female usage. The pool remained in the same place until it was replaced by the Pullen Aquatic Center in 1992 (see: Aquatic Center).

In addition to many of the existing rides there was also a small zoo on site from 1899 to 1938 and a steam-powered carousel which was replaced by the current carousel in 1921. The zoo was created following a national trend to incorporate zoological parks in public parks which began in the latter quarter of the nineteenth century. Beginning with only two raccoons, the collection soon grew in size and variety and by 1903 included an Australian owl, mink, bears, alligators and monkeys and many others. The zoo eventually closed, most likely due to the death of the Park Keeper, Wiley Howell, who had kept it going.

The merry-go-round was purchased for $350 in 1914 from the W.D. Chase Bottling Works of Galesburg, Illinois. It began operating in 1915 but apparently it was in poor condition because the city decided to purchase a Dentzel carousel only five years later. (see: Carousel)

Although baseball was unofficially played in Pullen Park for many years – perhaps even before the land became a park - the officially sanctioned field was not created until the unofficial field was renovated in 1920. A second field was added later.

In 2000 the city began making plans to update the park to accommodate the growing Raleigh population and later invited the citizens to take part in the plans. Over the past several years many changes have been made, including the removal of the iconic 'Swiss cheese' play structure and other playground equipment. More notable, however, is the new entrance and additional parking that makes the park more accessible to more people.

Although Jim Crow laws prohibited blacks from using some of the park facilities (e.g. the swimming pool), the main park areas were open to all and Raleigh community blacks were not denied access to these areas According to the census of the National Amusement Park Historical Association, Pullen Park is the 14th oldest amusement park in the world.

The park was closed from December 14, 2009 to November 18, 2011 for extensive renovations including a new, climate-controlled carousel house, welcome center, concessions building, restroom, and train station. Site improvements to the Center include a new entrance, event spaces, playground, underground utilities and picnic shelters. Additionally Lake Howell was drained and dredged for regular lake maintenance and to allow for updates including a new apron and installation of a geothermal energy system.