Boston Fire Museum

The Boston Fire Museum is housed in the former Congress Street fire station, an 1891 building originally constructed for Engine Companies 38 and 39 and later listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Operated by the Boston Sparks Association, the museum documents the development of Boston’s fire service, recognized as the nation’s first and oldest professional fire department.

Visitors can examine hand-pumped engines, a nineteenth-century steam fire engine, vintage motorized apparatus, helmets, fire buckets, alarm equipment, logbooks, and working elements of Boston’s telegraph fire-alarm system. Interactive demonstrations explain how alarm boxes and dispatch assignments functioned, while exhibits address events such as the Great Molasses Flood and the Cocoanut Grove fire. The authentic apparatus-bay setting and volunteer guides make it an engaging stop for families, engineering enthusiasts, and travelers interested in urban and public-safety history.