The Looff Hippodrome, built in 1916 and housing a hand-carved 1922 carousel, is a National Historic Landmark sitting at the entrance of the pier. The carousel operates daily, its 44 horses and chariots still running on the original Charles Looff mechanism. A ride costs a few dollars; the horses are painted in the original colours and the organ plays mechanically.
It is one of the oldest operating carousels in the United States, and unusual in being a genuinely beloved public attraction rather than a preserved relic — families come here specifically for the ride, not just to look. The hippodrome building's arched windows and conical roof are the most distinctive architectural element on the pier.