Jacksonville Fire Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1982 |
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| Location | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Visitors | 12,677 |
| Public transit access | Bus: Talleyrand Shuttle |
The Jacksonville Fire Museum tells the exciting story of firefighting in Jacksonville and across the state of Florida. It is run by the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department's Fire Prevention Division.
Inside the museum, you can see amazing pieces of history. There are photos and a diorama (a 3D model) of the Great Fire of 1901, a huge fire that changed the city forever. You can also see a real horse-drawn fire engine from 1902 and a motorized fire engine from 1926.
The museum is located in a special building called the Catherine Street Fire Station, also known as Station 3. This building is so important that it's a city landmark and is part of Florida's Black Heritage Trail. It was once home to a company of African-American firefighters.
For a while, the station was located on Catherine Street. In 1994, the entire building was moved to its current spot next to Metropolitan Park. The museum is currently closed for major repairs and improvements.
The Historic Catherine Street Fire Station
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Catherine Street Fire Station
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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The Catherine Street Fire Station, home of the museum.
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| Area | less than one acre |
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| Built | 1902 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000309 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 13, 1972 |
| Removed from NRHP | August 22, 2023 |
The Catherine Street Fire Station has a long and fascinating history. It was built in 1902, but the story of its fire company began even earlier.
Jacksonville's First Firefighters
On April 20, 1886, Jacksonville created its first professional fire department. It started with just three fire stations and 17 firefighters. Station 3, which was first at 500 East Bay Street, had a crew made up entirely of African-American firefighters.
The foreman was Henry Butler, and the team included Louis M. Kelly and J. Sirmans. They used a hose cart that was pulled by a horse named George!
A Building with Many Lives
After the original Station 3 fire company was closed in 1933, the building was used for other things. First, it was a repair shop for the fire department, and later it became a storage building.
Because of its historical importance, the Catherine Street Fire Station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1972. This list recognizes buildings that are important to American history. In 1982, the station was turned into the Jacksonville Fire Museum. The building was removed from the register on August 22, 2023, as part of a process for its ongoing restoration.
The building is currently closed while it undergoes more renovations to make sure it stands for many more years.
