Just opened in 2013, the San Antonio Fire Museum, just steps away from the Alamo (801 E. Houston) is housed in “Central Fire Headquarters,” or Fire Station #1, built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938. The city moved it’s firefighters to new digs in 2011. The San Antonio Fire Department began in 1891, and prior to that ran on volunteer service. The museum covers the history of the department back to 1854.
A large Atlas Life Saving Machine, the trampoline-style device people would jump on to from buildings in the old days, hangs from the ceiling and three fire trucks — American LaFrance’s from 1927 and 1981, and a 1951 Mack — are stationed in the bay at the front of the exhibit space.Kids can dress up in authentic replicas of Firefighters’ turnout gear and climb on a 1953 International fire truck.
Admission is $5 adults, $3 seniors 60+ and $2 for children. It’s open 10:00am-4:00pm Thursday through Saturday.
