Fireman's Hall
147-149 North 2^nd Street
(215)923-1438
Admission:  Free
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm

Fireman's Hall, located in the historic district of Philadelphia, is a monument to the history of firefighting in this country, dating back as far as 1731.  This small museum, which is perfect for a stop-by during a walking tour, has a surprising number of artifacts, clothing, and even vehicles that were used at various points in time in the never-ending battle to fight the city’s fires.

Some of the many things you'll see upon entry are leather buckets (which were used to lug water to the source of the distress,) authentic helmets, fire marks, medals, and a pole, which firemen would (and still) slide down to ground level when the call goes out.  These various items paint a complete picture of how life used to be, and how technology of the day lent itself to the prevention of fires.

The focal point of the Hall is a hand pump rumored to have been used by Ben Franklin, who established the first volunteer fire corps in the country, in addition to all of his other marvelous innovations.  The gift shop is stocked with various fire-related knicknacks of various price levels, so you can take a piece of history home with you.  The staff is comprised of real firemen who are very friendly and won't hesitate to answer any and all questions you may have.  Fireman's Hall is best suited for young children and those adults who still haven't abandoned their childhood dreams of fighting fire.  Ideal for a midday stop amongst the other attractions of the historic district.