On September 14, 2008, the Museum’s newest exhibit: Lest We Forget: Honoring the Memory of the Firefighters of September 11, 2001, opened to the public. 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 in the end, but was dubbed the "FDNY Dream Bike." The audio/video component of this exhibit will feature 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 exhibit features objects on loan from the New York State Museum. These 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.

Current exhibits include:
-Then, Now and Always: Firefighting From the Cradle of Rome Through the 1900’s
-A Home Away From Home: A Pictorial History of the Firemen’s Home.

For more information or a brochure, please call the Museum toll-free at (877) 347-3687.