WASHINGTON—After walking through the dirt paths and gardens, you may find yourself face-to-face with one of the hidden gems of Washington, D.C.: the Carousel on the National Mall. The bright carousel stands out against the cloudy backdrop of the city buildings, and provides a breath of fresh air from the stuffiness of the busy city. Adorned with 59 horses and 1 dragon, the ride is a nostalgic part of the capital.

The National Mall is packed with famous museums and monuments, so it’s easy to miss the little things. If you’ve ever been to the National Mall, you’ve probably walked right past the carousel without even thinking. Not only is it a family favorite, but it also holds historic value.

According to the Smithsonian Institution, the carousel held a role in the civil rights movement. It was initially constructed in the 1940s for the segregated Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Maryland, until the park agreed to desegregate the same day as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. On that day, an African-American daughter and father were permitted to ride the carousel in a still very segregated world.

As of today, the carousel is a favorite for children of all ages who live both near to and far from it. Everyone enjoys it for different reasons. For six-year-old Blyth Dobrow from Maine, it’s the thrill of it all. “It is so fun because sometimes you are so nervous that you are going to be thrown off,” said Dobrow. “But then the music starts playing and you forget about it.”

Similar to Dobrow, nine-year-old Elizabeth Lewis, a D.C. native, enjoyed it a lot—but as a horseback rider, the carousel didn’t quite meet her standards. “I like the real thing better,” said Lewis. “I wish it went faster.”

While some feel that the $3.50 ticket fee is worth the minute-long ride, 12-year-old Angela Owens disagrees. “I didn’t want to go on because I had to pay,” she said. “It should be free because it goes too slow.”

Aside from its historical value, the carousel also holds sentimental value for the majority of its riders. For many, it’s a family tradition, a small corner of familiarity in the big city.

For Lewis, going on the carousel and riding the horse with the golden mane is something she looks forward to “whenever [her] grandma is in town.”

Dobrow’s younger brother, Lewis, 3, found comfort in the fact that the horse he rode looked like his dog, Winslow. The younger Dobrow shyly admitted to his initial fear of the big carousel, but later discovered how much fun it was.

The Carousel on the National Mall continuously proves to be an enjoyable ride and brings out the inner kid in everyone who stops by—including these two staffers, who were just as excited to pick their horses as the kids right behind them.