Key West Firehouse Museum

 

By Morgan Kidwell

 

On January 2013, the Key West Firehouse Museum was officially opened by Captain Alex Vega and is located in an old fire station on the corner of Grinnell & Virginia Street. Captain Vega is a retired firefighter, his father was a firefighter and now his son is a firefighter. Captain Vega gave me a tour and he told me about some fires that happened in Key West and if he is there you can ask him some questions too.

 

About 90% of the museum is filled with things from Key West like an old firetruck, uniforms, hoses and fire alarm systems. Hey kids, if you come to visit they will actually let you sit on the firetruck, usually places won’t let you but they will!

 

The museum is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00 pm. It is fun for school field trips but it is also open to any visitors including tourists. Firefighters come from all around the world to see the museum. They have had visitors from France, New Zealand, Australia, Germany and a lot of firefighters come from New York, Chicago and Boston.

 

Another fun thing to look at is the Mamey tree.   It is a 100 year old tree and is outside the museum. At one time it is was the only Mamey tree in the United States.

 

The museum counts on donations. There is a gift shop where they sell things like books and tshirts. You can have fundraisers and birthday parties there too.

 

On Sunday January 18th from 4:00 to 6:00pm they will be having their 2nd Anniversary Fundraiser. I will be there so I hope you will be there too!

 

 

 

 

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