HOUSTON — It’s a big day for the Houston Fire Department – the reopening of the Houston Fire Museum, which had been closed since 2020.
The museum is in a fire station built in 1899. It was the first fire station built and paid for by the City of Houston and the oldest fire station still standing, according to HFD. The reopening comes after a $5.7M preservation project.
Some of the new features you’ll find there -- a private room for celebrations and an outdoor courtyard.
During the preservation project, exterior stucco was removed to expose the building’s original brick façade, as well as window, flooring and ceiling renovation. ADA-compliant restrooms, centralized air conditioning and a fire suppression system were also added.
“We are limiting our opening exhibits to highlight the masonry, wood, and window restorations that have been completed on this historic gem”, states Kate Ryther, Executive Director.
During October’s fire prevention week, the museum is partnering with State Farm for a virtual firefighter and inflatable fire safety house. The virtual firefighter will talk about fire safety with visitors in both English and Spanish. The inflatable house is a way for people to talk about fire escape plans, smoke alarms and more.
The museum, which is at 2403 Milam Street, will be open to the public from 10:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. Tickets are free, but reservations are required. We checked Saturday morning and the grand opening was sold out, but you can check back for more opportunities to head out to the museum.
