Preserving the history of fire fighting since 1971

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COMING SOON

Coming in Fall 2026 – a new interactive fire pole for young visitors in our Discovery Room.

Discovery Room

Next Event: Holiday Train Garden

Opens on Saturday, November 28 with the arrival of Santa at 11am.

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The Fire Museum of Maryland would not function without the service and dedication of our volunteers. Retired firefighters, historians, woodworkers, historic re-enactors, registrars, and mechanics all play a vital role in our ability to maintain, preserve, and restore our collection and buildings.

The Fire Museum of Maryland1 day ago

Happy Friday the 13th! For today’s #FireFactFriday we will be talking about one of our interactive pieces in the museum, that being the 1941 American-LaFrance Type 500 Pumping Engine, manufactured by the American-LaFrance-Foamite Corp in Elmira N.Y.

The 1941 American-LaFrance Type 500 Pumping Engine served the Ellicott City Fire Department in the early 1940’s and 50’s, where it functioned as an entry-level version of the American-LaFrance 500 series. The Pumping Engine sported a large 12-cylinder engine that powered a centrifugal pump. The centrifugal pump was preferred over rotary or piston pumps by most fire departments during the 1940’s, as it was easy to construct and maintain. Centrifugal pumps also allowed for more water pressure to build, as it had the ability to use hydrant pressure as a base.

The 1941 American-LaFrance Type 500 Pumping Engine served as the quintessential design style for Fire Engines in the 1940’s and 50’s. With its 12-cylinder engine and centrifugal pump it allowed for a more reliable high -volume water delivery onto fires while also serving as a bridge between the 400 and 500 series of Pumping Engines.

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The Fire Museum of Maryland1 week ago

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween! With the holiday over #FireFactFriday can get back on track. Today we will be talking about the 1913 Ahrens-Fox Continental Model “A” Engine, which serves as a great example of the transition from horses to apparatuses and the experimentation that went into designing new apparatuses.

The Engine was originally purchased in 1913 in Washington Courthouse Ohio for $9000, serving as a sizable investment for the community as it took up 90% of the year’s city budget. It served the community well until 1958 when it was sold to the Snyder Family. Model A was a record setting design; the Engine was the only fire engine to complete a 1913 twelve-hour pumping competition without shutting down. It beat out many other different manufacturers, such as American LaFrance, Knox, Lutweiller, Not, and many more.

The 1913 Ahrens-Fox Continental Model “A” Engine that we have at the museum is the last Ahren-Fox Continental Model a known in existence. Only 33 were ever made and if you want to see this last known Engine for yourself come on down to the Fire Museum of Maryland. #FireFactFriday

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Upcoming Events from The Fire Museum

The Fire Museum

Holiday Train Garden

November 28, 2026 @ 10:00 am

The Fire Museum of Maryland

On Opening Day, snap a selfie with Santa, from 11 am until 2 pm on Nov. 28th.

Watch as O-scale trains wind through a 20th-century town.

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Fire Museum of Maryland

What's cool about the Fire Museum? We have something for everyone!

What People Are Saying About The Fire Museum of Maryland…

We went today for the first time around 1. Spent around 2 hours here. I highly suggest taking your little ones to this museum! It was very interesting for us adults as well. They have a kids room where they can play and sit on an old Mack fire truck. Fire outfits to dress up in, a train table, books, kept our 4 year old entertained. They have working old fire alarm boxes in the back and it was neat to learn about them. Their staff is run by volunteers and everyone was friendly and knowledgeable!

I had an amazing time about learning Baltimore fire department history. Tom was very knowledgeable and demonstrated how fire alarm worked before cellphones existed.

Absolutely sparkling, and amazing.The job these people do at maintaining the perfect museum and most amazing precise quality, the skills and craftsmanship, a labor of love for us all to enjoy. Just stunning.

Awesome learning experience for small groups. Kids learned a lot and free time in the discovery area at the end. We were there 1.5-2hours for our tour we booked in advanced. Make sure you bring some quarters and pennies for the souvenir coin press machine and for for gifts. They also have scouts and birthday party options. #4evalearning

It had been many years since we last visited this museum. I must say it is a most impressive place to go. It is perfect for all ages, plenty of extremely cool machines and things for the little ones. What I really liked is that it is a museum first, with things for children second. A very nice play with fire equipment and clothes to try on. The gift area was just the right size, not taking up to much space or offering any cheesy products.

This is a real gem. Been in this area for years and never realized it was here. Great history of firefighting. Well restored examples of firefighting equipment from hand pumps all the way up to the gas engine pumps of the 50s and 60s.

An awesome experience! The attention to detail here is amazing. Everywhere you look is something, from period ceiling lights to badge displays, and obviously the apparatus, you have to pay attention or you will miss something. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!

The Fire Museum of Maryland is a true delight! It offers a wonderful variety of activities for kids, keeping them engaged and entertained throughout the visit. Moreover, the museum provides an insightful journey into the history of firefighting. During our time there, we were particularly intrigued by the exhibit on the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, which highlighted the city’s resilience in the face of adversity. Additionally, learning about the crucial role of horse-drawn steam engines in early firefighting efforts was both informative and fascinating. Overall, the museum strikes a perfect balance between fun and learning, making it a must-visit for families and history buffs alike.

I would definitely recommend this museum. They have a lot of great exhibits! The staff were eager to help answer your questions too. Definitely worth a trip for all ages.

my son’s kindergarten class came here a few weeks ago and it was really a great time. I was one of the chaperones and I learned alot myself! our tour guide was very informative and he did a great job explaining everything so 5/6 year olds could easily understand. they included some cute little games to go along with the tour and everyone really had a good time. I’m going to bring my kids back so we can finish looking around!

I would like to commend the Museum and the staff on their efforts to preserve our fire history. You have alot great apparatus and artifacts. I hope you had a great 140th anniversary show for Seagrave today. Good job and well done curators, historians, and staff.

This place is amazing! I wasn’t expect to see many engines and unique things. Every piece looks restored and “polished” with love, very well taking care of. I think this is a secret- looks like a regular building from outside, but as soon as you getting inside you are in the different world, different era. Recommend this place for everyone, not only children. End they sell great hoodies:))- my granddaughter loves it!!!