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The 2008 NCA Convention
EXPLORING THE MISSISSIPPI
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 The Highland Park Dentzel Meridian, MS Photo by Jean Bennett |
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You begin your journey by contacting the Holiday Inn Select Memphis Airport, either toll free at 888-444-7789 or by clicking on This Link, no later than August 15th and making your room reservation. When calling the hotel, indicate you are with the NCA Convention to insure you receive our special convention rate.
Our exploration will offer, in addition to the Convention package, a pre-convention tour to Meridian, Mississippi plus optional local Memphis tours on Wednesday September 24th. (Our registration form is Available Here.)
Begins Tuesday, September 23rd and features an all day round trip from Memphis to Meridian, Mississippi and a visit to their 1896 Gustav Dentzel two-row all standers carousel. http://www.meridianms.org/pr_carousel.htm (See photo show for this carousel at http://www.nca-usa.org/psp/Meridian/).
Our discovery includes lunch in the Highland Park Carousel building and rides on their beautifully restored carousel that was originally featured at the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair. Later in the week on our Mississippi Valley exploration, our journey will take us to the site of the St. Louis fair.
Motor coach transportation and lunch is included with the Meridian tour registration fee. You will need to arrive in Memphis and the Holiday Inn Select Hotel on Monday evening September 22nd as the bus will depart 7:30am Tuesday morning. Early Convention Check-in will be available Monday evening in the hotel. The Meridian Tour is an add on to Convention package.
Begins Wednesday, September 24th and runs through Sunday September 28th and includes an over night stay in St. Louis, Missouri.
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 The Memphis Zoo Carousel Memphis, TN Photo by Bette Sue Gray |
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Optional local Memphis tours will also be available Wednesday morning and early afternoon including a visit to the Memphis Zoo featuring giant Pandas and their Carousel Works Endangered Species Carousel. For more details see optional Memphis tours below.
Wednesday afternoon will feature a short bus ride to the Mid-South Fairgrounds in Memphis and the site of the former Libertyland Amusement Park. We will visit and photograph the 1909 Dentzel Carousel complete and still located in its original Libertyland building. (See the photo show for this carrousel at http://www.nca-usa.org/psp/Libertyland/ ). It is currently owned and maintained by the City of Memphis Parks Department but is not operating. Our day will end with dinner at the hotel and presentations by local Memphis leaders regarding the future of their Dentzel Carousel and the Zippin Pippin Roller Coaster.
Thursday, September 25th will begin with breakfast at the hotel and an early bus departure for St. Louis, Missouri. Our route will take us north up I-55 along the Mississippi River.
Our first stop in St. Louis will be at the world famous St. Louis Zoo for lunch and rides on their Carousel Works Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel. http://www.stlzoo.org/yourvisit/thingstoseeanddo/thewild/conservationcarousel.htm The Zoo is located in Forest Park and the site of the 1904 St Louis World's Fair.
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 PTC #35, Six Flags St. Louis Eureka, MO Photo by Bette Sue Gray |
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We then bus to the Marriot St. Louis West Hotel to check-in and a short rest before our evening voyage. Your stay at the Marriot Hotel is included in your Convention Registration.
We then depart for a short bus ride to Faust Park and home of the St. Louis 1921 Dentzel Carousel featuring 4 rows of jumpers and standers. Also on display is their 1898 Armitage-Herschell track machine horses and chariot sides. Our evening will include dinner and presentations. (See the photo show for these carousels at http://www.nca-usa.org/psp/FaustCountyDentzel/ and at http://www.nca-usa.org/psp/FaustCountyAH/)
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 The Seminary Picnic Carousel Perryville, MO Photo by Bette Sue Gray |
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Following lunch we return south along the mighty Mississippi to the Memphis Holiday Inn Select for the annual Convention Dinner and Auction. Our evening will feature a special tribute to Charles Walker. Plaid is the theme, so be sure to bring your favorite plaid shirt and attire.
The success of the annual NCA Convention Auction depends on everyone's participation and is your opportunity to contribute to the NCA Carousel Preservation Fund.
Saturday, September 27th begins with breakfast at the hotel followed by a bus ride south along the Mississippi River to the delta country and Greenville, Mississippi and a visit to their 1901 Armitage-Hershell two row portable track machine, located in the E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center. Lunch will follow at Sherman's Restaurant in Greenville.
Our motor coach will then take us across the Mississippi River and north to Little Rock, Arkansas and a visit to the Little Rock Zoo and their newly restored 1924 Spillman Engineering "Over the Jumps" Carousel. This is a one of a kind experience you do not want to miss and an opportunity to visit with the many volunteers who helped restore this very unique ride. Our evening at the Zoo will include dinner and few surprises and presentations. We then return to Memphis.
Sunday, September 28th includes breakfast at the hotel followed by the annual General Membership meeting of the National Carousel Association. Bon Voyage!
(Non-NCA Members add $47.00 per family)
CONVENTION PACKAGE FEES INCLUDE:
WEDNESDAY OPTIONAL LOCAL MEMPHIS TOURS:
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