Fire Museum of Memphis

The Fire Museum of Memphis is America's premier interactive fire museum, located in the legendary Fire Engine House No. 1, built in 1910. Children of all ages can don turnout coats and helmets and play on authentic fire equipment, put out a simulated fire in a high rise building, ride on an aerial platform, and slide down a brass fire pole. Visitors can safely experience what it looks and feels like to be in a burning house in the FedEx Fire Room, and they can learn how to prevent home fires and how to react in a real-life emergency in the Fire Safety House and the Escape Maze.  The museum also features beautifully restored historic fire equipment, including the originally horse-drawn 1897 Hale Water Tower, a 1910 horse-drawn steam fire engine, and a 1912 American-LaFrance pumper. Ol' Billy, an animatronic talking fire horse, tells the story of firefighting in the horse-drawn era. An exhibit on the first twelve African American Memphis firefighters, contemporary art and historic firefighting artifacts, and an exhibition on historic fires in Memphis honor the service and history of the city's great Fire Department. The magnificent 22 foot high sculpted Memorial Wall on the museum's east facade is dedicated to every fire fighter killed in the line of duty in Memphis since 1880. Fifty-four names, carved in stone, grace the wall of the memorial in remembrance of their sacrifice. Education is the most important part of fire prevention, and the museum is benefited by educators who know how to entertain, hosting fire safety tours for kids and adults in groups of 10 or more (advanced reservations required). A complete list of the museum's exhibits and attractions is available at www.firemuseum.com.