New York City Fire Museum
278 Spring Street (between Hudson and Varick)
Manhattan
(212) 691-1303

Summary: Housed in a firehouse built in 1903 in the Beaux Art style, the museum chronicles the history of firefighting in New York City from Colonial days to the present.

Whether you glance through the museum's exhibits in an hour or take the time to immerse yourself in firefighting history, a trip to the New York City Fire Museum will be worthwhile. The Fire Museum is located in a renovated firehouse and has an extensive collection of fire- related memorabilia. You will see actual fire engines, art, models, and newspaper clippings which discuss the history of firefighting.

Who Will Like This Museum
This museum is designed to appeal to a host of people, young and old. Children, especially those going through the "I want to be a firefighter when I grow up" phase, will love the real and model fire engines. The museum also has a strong educational component and presents historical information about firefighting from a number of perspectives.

The First Floor
The first floor contains actual fire engines and equipment such as the "Jaws of Life" rescue tool. Displays along the walls tell you about the complex history of firefighting. One of the most important aspects of fighting fires is, of course, the water supply, and the museum sorts through the ways New York City has provided its citizens and firemen with water.

You will also learn about:

• The fire hose, including its inception in the Netherlands and the ways the first leather hoses were maintained to keep from cracking.
• The importance of hydrants and the politics of fire companies who fought over their use.
• The fire engine's evolution from manual power to motorization.
• The social traditions of New York's firefighters.

Animals and Firefighting
Of course, men were not the only ones fighting fires. For a long time firefighters were dependent on horses to get the engines to the scenes of fires. Firemen frequently became very attached to these animals, which unfortunately often died in accidents on the way to fires. Such occasions were periods of mourning for fire companies.

And what would our images of a fire unit be without the spotted dalmatian? Actually, in the early days, any dog that found its way to the door of a firehouse was accepted as a mascot. In time, however, firefighters learned that trained dogs could keep strays away from the horses on the way to fires, thereby decreasing the chance for accidents. Dalmatians became popular because they could endure the run from the firehouse to the scene of the fire and were fast enough to keep up.

The museum presents the story of one particular mutt who saved the lives of a cat and her litter and who in his lifetime was cut by glass and scalded by boiling water on the job. This beloved dog was eventually hit by a car and killed, but the men of the fire company brought his body to a taxidermist so he could remain with them. The animal can be seen behind glass in the museum.

Other Exhibitions
If you are into fire engine models, you will like the small model truck display. In the center of it is a model of a firehouse, complete with beds, bathrooms, sliding poles, and fire engines.

The back room of the first floor is devoted to issues that today's firefighter must face. The walls are covered with snapshots of firefighters. On one side of the room, you can read an account of a huge fire that occurred in New York on January 23, 1985. A model of the scene gives you a bird's eye view of what happened in this horrible fire, which ultimately took 45 hours to put out.

The Second Floor
The exhibits on the second floor are more colorful and involve considerably less reading. For example, you will see the shields that fire companies used to exchange as a sign of friendship and the ornate ribbons firefighters still wear in parades.

And if you are interested in toys, there is a small exhibit of firetruck toys. There is also a section devoted to fire-related art. A portion of this exhibit is called "The Life of a Fireman" by Currier and Ives, depicting the lives of volunteer firemen and documenting the beginning of the professional system that took over in New York City in 1865.

Special Events
In recognition of children' attraction to the firefighting, the Fire Museum hosts personalized birthday parties for kids between the ages of four and eight. The Fire Museum also accepts reservations for rooms on the third floor for other types of celebrations.

When To Go
The museum tends to be busiest on the weekdays when school groups visit and on Saturdays. Sundays are quieter.

How To Get There
By subway, take the 1 or 9 to Houston Street, or the C or E to Spring Street. From the 1 or 9 exit, walk down Varick Street until you come to Spring Street where you will take a right. The museum is on that block. From the C or E exit, walk west on Spring Street until you see the museum's banners.

There is free parking available in front. Parking permits are available at the information desk. Need more information? Visit the Fire Museum's web site.

by Andrew Roche

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