757 West Market St.
York, PA 17404
(717) 848-1587 - Fax 812-1204
http://www.yorkheritage.org/fire_museum.html
The Fire Museum of York County preserves the heritage of more than 200 years of firefighting. All seventy-two fire companies of York County are represented here, with some of them dating back to before the American Revolution. The beautiful turn-of-the-century fire house creates the perfect atmosphere for the many exciting displays.
Visitors will see how firefighters progressed from the early Leather Bucket Brigades to Hand Drawn Carts and Pumps, to Horse Drawn Apparatus, and finally to Motorized Equipment. The equipment here is real, and it's pretty neat stuff.
Pull a Fire Alarm Box and see and hear an original Gamewell Fire Alarm System from the late 1800's. Read the names of the old fire horses -- still engraved in concrete with brass letters. Visit an old fashioned Fire Chief's Sleeping Quarters, complete with brass slide pole.
Exhibits showcase fire vehicles of all types, including a 1919 Model T fire engine, a 1933 Ahrens-Fox, a 1955 American LaFrance, and four other motorized vehicles. Of course there are the horse-drawn carts and other apparatus. An exhibit of Currier & Ives Prints and a variety of other fire fighting artifacts completes the collection.
While there are no formal programs for School Groups, the tour is definitely educational for all ages.
Hours: Open from around mid-April thru November on Saturdays from 10am - 4 pm. Groups can arrange tours at other times by appointment.
Admission: Adults $6.00, Senior Citizens, College Students and Children over 12 $5.00. Children 12 and under FREE. Half-price admission January thru March. Note that tickets cover all sites for the York County Heritage trust for the day. School Groups $4.00 per student.
Group Reservations: 2 weeks.
Lunch: Nearby restaurants.
Handicapped: First floor is accessible (motorized vehicles).
Directions: I-76 West to I-83 South to exit for East Philadelphia St. Go west to end and turn left onto Carlisle Ave. (Rt. 74). Turn right onto West Market St. Museum is on right.
Time: 90 - 120 minutes west of Philadelphia.
Nearby: York County Historical Society , Agricultural & Industrial Museum , Weight Lifting Hall of Fame , Indian Steps Museum .