New York City Fire Museum facts for kids
The New York City Fire Museum is a special place in Manhattan, New York City. It teaches visitors all about the history of firefighting. You can find it in the Hudson Square neighborhood. The museum is inside an old fire station. This building was once home to Engine Company No. 30. It was built way back in 1904.
The museum takes care of more than 10,000 items. It also has thousands of old records, photos, and papers. These items show the amazing history of firefighters and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). You can see modern firefighting tools there too. There is also a special memorial. It honors the 343 FDNY members. They bravely died at the World Trade Center site during the September 11 attacks.
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History of the Museum
The idea for the NYC Fire Museum started a long time ago. It began in December 1870. The first small museum was at the Fire Department Headquarters. This was at 155 Mercer Street in Manhattan. Later, the headquarters moved. The museum collection was then set up at the NYC Fire College. This college was in Long Island City, Queens.
In 1948, the collection moved again. It found a better home at the FDNY repair shops. Then, in 1958, it moved to 100 Duane Street in Manhattan. This new spot was much easier for people to visit. They could see the many cool artifacts on two floors.
In 1981, a big collection of firefighting items was given to New York City. This came from the H. V. Smith Firefighting Museum. The collection was huge! It was too big for the Duane Street location. So, the FDNY decided to create a new, modern museum. They chose the old firehouse at 278 Spring Street. This building was built in 1904.
A group called "Friends of the New York City Fire Department Collection, Inc." helped raise money. Thanks to their efforts, the new museum opened its doors. This happened on July 6, 1987.
In 2015, the museum received an "Absolute Charter." This was from the New York State Department of Education. It meant the museum was officially recognized. In 2017, the "Friends" group and the museum officially joined together.
What You Can See
The museum shows how firefighting has changed over time. You can see how people fought fires with bucket brigades. Then came horse-drawn carriages. Finally, modern fire engines arrived. The museum also explains how fire departments grew. They changed from groups of volunteer firefighters to official city departments.
A very important part of the museum is the memorial. It honors the 343 FDNY members. They lost their lives during the September 11 attacks. This memorial includes items found at the World Trade Center site. There is also a special monument. It remembers each firefighter who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The museum has items from the mid-1600s! Because the collection is so large, only a small part is on display. About 3% of all items are shown at any time.
Sometimes, retired FDNY firefighters are at the museum. They share stories and teach visitors about firefighting history. The museum also teaches about fire safety. It has a pretend apartment. This helps kids learn about fire dangers. It's part of their programs for students.
About 40,000 people visit the museum each year. After the September 11 attacks, more people visited in 2002. But now, the number of visitors is back to normal.
Permanent Exhibitions
The New York City Fire Museum shares the story of early firefighting. You can see old firefighting tools and equipment. These items date back to the 1650s. They include old carriages, engines, and special fire marks. You can also see buckets, trumpets, helmets, and uniforms.
Some of the main exhibits are:
- Firefighting on Parade
- Romance of Firefighting
- Fire Apparatus
- Tools and Uniforms
The museum also has many fire insurance marks. These were special signs used long ago.
Host Your Event
The third floor of the museum is a large, open space. It is 3,000 square feet. This area can be rented for private events. Many different groups use this beautiful setting. They host weddings, art shows, and company meetings. You can even have a Junior Firefighter Birthday party there! The area has a kitchen and bathrooms for everyone.
Fire Safety Education
The museum works with the FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit. They offer special programs for school groups. Kids watch a video in a classroom. Then, they go to a pretend house. There, they learn what to do if there's smoke. They practice how to escape safely. They are also reminded to close doors behind them. This simple step can save lives in a fire.
In 2018, the pretend house was updated. It is now called the "Fire Safety Learning Center." It has new interactive parts. Now, families can visit it without a guide.
Images for kids
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The New York City Fire Museum is located in a renovated 1904 firehouse
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