New Bedford Fire Museum

Very informative. The volunteers were knowledgeable and super kid friendly with the little ones. Every resident should visit and support our city and fireman.

The New Bedford Fire Museum is a local history museum at 51 Bedford Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States. It is located in the 1867 Fire Station No. 4, the city's oldest surviving fire station. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The museum is open between July 4 and Labor Day. It houses a collection of firefighting equipment and memorabilia related to the history of firefighting in the city.nnThe New Bedford Fire Museum is located south of downtown New Bedford, at the northwest corner of South 6th and Bedford Streets. The former fire station it is located in is a two-story brick building, constructed in 1867 and enlarged in the 1880s. Its most prominent feature is the hose tower, which has bricked-over rounded-arch openings and a hip roof with a flared eave and corbelled brick cornice. The original portion of the station has two equipment bays, with paneled doors and granite frame. The enlargement, to the left of the main block, also has two bays on either side of a pedestrian door. The building was originally designed for horse-drawn fire equipment, its lower level including stable space, and the upper level used in part as a hay loft.nnThe station's first foreman was A.M. Howland Jr., who later served as mayor of New Bedford, and it was manned by a volunteer force. The station was named in honor of Cornelius Howland, one of the city's leading merchants. The addition originally housed the fire department repair shop. In 1913, the volunteer force was replaced by paid staff, and the hay lofts were converted into living space.nThe station was one of the oldest continuously operating fire stations in the state when it was closed in 1979. In 1975 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Fire Station No. 4. The museum was opened the following year.nMuseum collectionnnThe museum has a collection of old firefighting equipment and some old fire engines. Among them is the original 1867 Cornelius Howland hand pumper, which saw active service in this station until 1884. It also includes log books from the station's operations between 1867 and 1913. Visitors can try on old uniforms and slide down the pole. Old city fire records dating to 1890 are available for research and review. Retired and active city firefighters act as docents.nRain damage to the station's roof required the closing and renovation of the museum's second story. It reopened in July 2008.

This place just keeps getting better - we loved the new air conditioning!nnOur camp looks forward to this museum every year. It is by far our favorite summer field trip and this year they added AC. The firemen are friendly and the kids love all the hands on experiences. They can sit in the antique fire trucks, turn the steering wheels and sound the horns. They get to try on fire hats, boots and coats and slide down the fire pole. They get to roam around the bunk rooms and the Fire Captain’s office/bedroom.nnI highly recommend this place to kids and anyone who remembers the firehouses of yesteryear. This place is unique, wonderful and a must see when visiting New Bedford.

This place was awesome, a great place for any firefighter or fire buff who loves fire service history. Also very hands on for kids to make it a great trip for a family as well. A great staff on hand will be glad to help you out, had 7 retired rigs dating from 1800's-1970's. I highly suggest this if your plan on visiting New Bedford or are just driving through. Admission was $3.00.nHours of Operation:nMon-Saturday 9am-4pm until Labor Day.nWinter is by appointment only.

This IS a museum and is packed full of wonderful old steam engines and fire trucks. Lots of great historical artifacts and photos inside this historic New Bedford Fire House. Museum volunteers are former firefighters, some who worked in this station and with the engines housed within. Well worth a visit!