The Fire Museum & Educational Center
Former Station #23 was built in 1851 during our volunteer firefighting days and was in-service until 1891, when the paid department went into service. Station #23 was the last station in the city to trade in its horses for motorized vehicles in 1922. 1991 saw the closing of Station #23 and work began to transform the fire station into a Fire Museum and Educational Center and opening its doors to the public in 1995. On display are two levels of uniforms, photos, helmets from around the world, unique certificates also wooden and metal hand pulled vehicles plus, horse drawn and motorized apparatus’.
Before the 1896 horse drawn steam engine went out of service in 1922, it rolled through the streets of New Orleans following its galloping horses responding to emergency fire calls. Its steam-driven pump is made of gleaming brass and seated atop a wooden chassis painted shiny red.
This Steam engine still rolls through the streets of New Orleans in Mardi Gras and Christmas parades. It also honors the Louisiana State Fallen Firefighter Memorial each year in Baton Rouge, LA.
On December 15, 1891, the New Orleans Fire Department came into existence as a paid department. Becoming a paid department insured one of the most culturally rich and historically relevant cities in all of the Americas had the safety and security of a prompt response from professionally trained firefighters.
Fire Museum tours are by appointment only.
Our hours are Monday - Friday, 09:00 am until 2:00 pm.
Closed weekends and holidays.
Firefighter Michael Williams, Director/Curator
Schedule your tour today