Exhibitions

Two centuries of fire apparatus form the core of the firefighting collection at the New York State Museum. With hand engines, steam engines, motor pumpers, a hose cart, a parade carriage, and an aerial and water tower, most significant types of firefighting equipment are on display. Some of the pieces represent the products of important New York apparatus manufacturers such as Lysander Button, Clapp and Jones and the American-LaFrance Company. Other rigs are valued as veterans of both volunteer and paid fire departments across the state from Perrysburg to New York City. 

While much of the fire apparatus is on display in Fire Engine Hall, most of the remaining portions of the Museum’s firefighting collection are in storage. These holdings also include a variety of other two and three dimensional materials. A number of nineteenth century prints depict the nature of historical firefighting. Helmets, parade belts, speaking trumpets, buckets, play pipes, ladders, extinguishers, alarm boxes, badges and convention ribbons comprise the major portion of the remaining material.