New Bedford Fire Museum facts for kids
The New Bedford Fire Museum, formerly Fire Station No. 4
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| Established | 1976 |
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| Location | 51 Bedford St., New Bedford, MA, United States |
| Type | Firefighting museum |
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Fire Station No. 4
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Part of | County Street Historic District (ID76000229) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000250 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1975 |
| Designated CP | August 11, 1976 |
The New Bedford Fire Museum is a cool place to visit in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It's located at 51 Bedford Street. This museum is special because it's inside an old fire station! This building, called Fire Station No. 4, was built way back in 1867. It's the oldest fire station still standing in the city. The museum is usually open during the summer, from July 4th until Labor Day. Inside, you can see lots of old firefighting tools and learn about the history of firefighters in New Bedford.
The Historic Fire Station Building
The New Bedford Fire Museum is located south of the city center. It's a two-story brick building. It was built in 1867 and made a bit bigger in the 1880s. A cool part of the building is its tall hose tower. This tower was used to hang and dry long fire hoses.
When it was first built, the station was made for fire equipment pulled by horses. The first floor had stables for the horses. The upper floor was even used as a hay loft! Over time, things changed. In 1913, paid firefighters took over from volunteers. The hay lofts were then turned into living spaces for the firefighters.
This fire station was one of the oldest working stations in Massachusetts. It finally closed in 1979. Because it's so old and important, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The museum then opened its doors the very next year, in 1976.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has an amazing collection of old firefighting gear. You can see some really old fire engines! One special item is the original 1867 Cornelius Howland hand pumper. This was a type of fire engine that firefighters had to pump by hand. It was used right here at this station until 1884!
Visitors can also look at old log books. These books show how the fire station operated from 1867 to 1913. Imagine reading about what firefighters did over 100 years ago! A fun part of the museum is that you can try on old firefighter uniforms. You might even get to slide down a fire pole, just like real firefighters!
If you're interested in history, you can even look at old city fire records. These records go all the way back to 1890. Firefighters, both retired and still working, are often there to guide you. They can share stories and answer your questions. The museum's second floor was closed for a while due to roof damage. But it was fixed up and reopened in July 2008.
See also
