The Crescent Park carousel, originally steam-powered and gas-lit, was Looff's showroom, and it cemented Rhode Island's place ...

Rep. McNamara maintains the 1663 Royal Charter empowers the governor to create free trade zones, but R.I. Commerce officials say all customs rules and tariff rates are governed by federal law.

Rhode Island has a special connection to carousels ... according to the historic register form. Looff moved to California in 1910 to build carousels on the other side of the country.