The Jacksonville Fire Museum

The Jacksonville Fire Museum serves as an educational link between past and present. Through the years, thousands of visitors have toured the museum, learning about the rich history of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. At The Jacksonville Fire Museum, you will see more than 500 items detailing the history of the fire service not only in Jacksonville, but the entire state of Florida. Exhibits include photos from the Great Fire of 1901, a fully-restored 1902 American LaFrance horse-drawn fire engine, and a working 1926 American LaFrance fire engine.

The Jacksonville Fire Museum is free to the public. Please click on the "Planning Your Visit" link for more information about visiting the museum, or click here to e-mail the curator. You can also follow us on Twitter!

The Jacksonville Fire Museum participates in the history of Jacksonville Tour and the Jacksonville Safe City Program. The History of Jacksonville Tour includes the history of the Great Fire of 1901, and the Jacksonville Fire Department and how it was formed. The Safe City Program includes fire safety, 911 information and medical information.

• The Jacksonville Fire Museum proudly serves as the state of Florida Fire Museum.Fire Station No. 3 was originally opened in 1886 on the south side of the 500 block of East Bay Street in Downtown Jacksonville.
• Station No. 3 was destroyed during the great fire of Jacksonville on May 3rd, 1901. Following the fire, a temporary shed was constructed on the old location while a new station was built for firefighters at 12 Catherine St. Bricks salvaged from buildings destroyed by the great fire were used to build the north, south, and west walls of the new firehouse. Ten months after the Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901, the new Fire Station 3 was opened.
• The new fire station was equipped with a new 1902 LaFrance Steam Engine, which was accepted by Chief Thomas Haney.
• In 1920, the Jacksonville Fire Department shop facilities were moved to the rear of Fire Station 3 and remained there until 1952.
• In 1933, Fire Station No. 3 was de-activated and the crew was sent to open Fire Station 14 on Herschel Street in the Avondale section of Jacksonville.
• From 1952 until 1973, Fire Station No. 3 was used only as a storage facility for the Jacksonville Fire Department.
• Fire Station No. 3's fortune began to change in 1973. Through the efforts of Jacksonville Fire Lieutenant Paul Galloway and Engineer Wayne Doolittle, along with the assistance of the Jacksonville Historical and Cultural Conservation Commission and the Jacksonville Mayor's Office, Fire Station No. 3 was placed on the National Registry of Historical Monuments. Renovations soon began on the old station, and with the assistance of the State of Florida Historical trust, funds were available to help open Fire Station No. 3 as the Jacksonville Fire Museum.
• In 1993, Engineering studies revealed deterioration of the foundation and large cracks in the bricks which posed a threat of collapse. Stabilization of the structure could not be guaranteed.
• With the assistance of the Mayor's Office and the Department of State, Division of Historical Preservation, funding was made available for the restoration of Fire Station No. 3 at its new home in Jacksonville's Metropolitan Park, where it sits today.

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