The Science of Fire

This interactive, hands-on children’s exhibit explores the science of fire. Components include fire is part of all of our lives, sources of fire, the fire triangle, the fire safety quiz and what do you know about fire? Children can listen to the audio presentation and do the interactives that are presented in each segment of the exhibit. Children will be amazed to learn that fire powers cars, is used to make pottery and many other things that we all take for granted. They will learn that fire can be used in a safe and helpful way that benefits us all; however they will also learn that fire can be a dangerous thing as well.

Through this exhibit, children will be taught not only the science of fire, but how to apply it to fire safety and prevention. This is absolutely vital, as fires and burns are a leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under.

Legacy: Robert Fulton and the Commercial Utilization of the Steam Engine

This interactive exhibit briefly examines Robert Fulton’s story and concentrates on his legacy as it relates to the fire service. Panels detail Fulton’s contributions and the utilization of steam power for other commercial uses, including steam fire pumpers. The exhibit also intertwines another facet of the history of the Hudson River Valley Region into the exhibit: the manufacture of steam pumpers in Hudson, N.Y. by the Clapp and Jones Company.

The Museum’s collection includes two of these examples of steam powered fire pumpers manufactured by Clapp and Jones. Steamers were manufactured and used through the early 1900’s in America. Although many were sent to the scrap yard for their brass and iron during World War II, the FASNY Museum of Firefighting is fortunate to have a total of five steamers gifted to the Museum over the years, including a rare 1898 American Cosmopolitan or “Mighty Midget” steamer manufactured by American LaFrance, which can be viewed in the exhibit. Interactive components include an audio/video component entitled “Fire Horses” and an interactive quiz activity also concerning fire horses. This exhibit also contains an interactive steam engine model that allows the visitor privy to the inner working of a steam-powered fire pumper.

Lest We Forget: Honoring the Memory of the Firefighters of September 11, 2001

This exhibition tells the story of the firefighters of 9-11 by relating their story through authentic, personal objects that were recovered, images from the event and artifacts that were part of the event or forged or created out of the extreme feelings of loss and disbelief in the aftermath of the tragedy. One of these objects is the FDNY Dream Bike. The FDNY Dream Bike revolves around the story of Gerard Baptiste, a young New York City firefighter who died tragically during the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. Just two weeks before his death, Baptiste bought a used 1979 Honda CB750 for $100 from a street sale in Manhattan's East Village. When his plans of fixing the bike were tragically halted, the survivors of Ladder 9 resolved to restore it in his honor. After 15 months of labor, not only was the bike restored to its former glory, but was dubbed the "FDNY Dream Bike."

The audio/video component of this exhibit features the Dream Bike documentary film, which offers an intimate view into the Dream Bike project, the personal story of Firefighter Baptiste and explores the acute loss his brother Firefighters of Ladder 9 felt, which drove them to express their grief and honor his memory in the restoration of this bike. In addition, this exhibition features objects on loan from the New York State Museum. The objects include materials from the World Trade Center, airliner fragments and objects related to firefighters that were recovered after the events of 9-11. Another audio/video component of the exhibit is the documentary “Collateral Damage.” This film describes the psychological impact 9-11 had on firefighters. Featuring the personal testimonies of FDNY firefighters from Engine 6, Rescue 2 and Engine 285, these stories relate the overwhelming emotional anguish felt after September 11, 2001.

A Home Away From Home: a Pictorial History of the Firemen’s Home

This exhibit details the founding of the Firemen’s Home and its evolution from a working farm for firemen down-on-their-luck to a skilled nursing facility. This exhibit includes many pictures of the Firemen’s home and its residents through the years, as well as objects related to the establishment of the Firemen’s Home. Highlighted in the exhibit is the life of John Cruise O’Neil, a Firemen’s Home resident during the early 1900’s.

The audio/visual component of the exhibit allows the visitor access to Mr. O’Neil’s life before and during his residence at the Firemen’s Home, as well as his thoughts concerning his contemporaries and major events of the era. An interactive component challenging the visitor to match quotes on aging to famous individuals completes this exhibit.

Then, Now and Always: Firefighting from the Cradle of Rome Through the 1900’s

This exhibit chronicles the development of organized firefighting and is divided into several components: Ancient Times: This section relates the story of the Corps of Vigiles, a Roman firefighting force that grew to over 7,000 men and takes the visitor through the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages. 1600’s: This component focuses on the colonization of the New World and fire precautions, laws and tools used by the Dutch to fight fire in New Netherlands, which the state later named New York was a part of. 1700’s: This section relates the story of firefighting before and after the American Revolution and discusses the purchase of New York’s first fire engines and the formation of the Volunteer Fire Department in New York City. 1800’s: This component relates the story of this era of innovation that saw the introduction of steamers, horses and Dalmatians to the Fire Service, as well as many technological advances. 1900’s: This section takes the visitor through the beginning of the motorized age of the Fire Service and examines the many technological advances of this time period, including the changes in firefighting gear.

These components combine to relate to the visitor the development of organized firefighting, from its infancy in Rome through the 1900’s. This is accomplished by utilizing many of the fabulous objects in the Museum’s collection, as well as a series of graphic panels and object cards. Adjacent to the exhibit cases are the Museum’s earliest examples of fire apparatus dating as far back as 1731. After viewing the exhibit, the visitor is then invited to apply their knowledge of fire apparatus and firefighter turnout gear to a new sequencing interactive in the exhibit. The exhibit also asks visitors to record their story of rescue, either from the perspective of the firefighter or the person who was rescued by a firefighter, in a journal at the end of the exhibit.