Milwaukee Fire Museum Now Open For Tours (2021)

Photo: Doors Open Milwaukee

If you have kids who are wild about fire trucks, then you won't want to miss this hidden gem in Milwaukee.

Located in an old 1927 fire station on Oklahoma Avenue, the Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) Museum and Historical Society is open for afternoon tours (1 - 3 p.m., or by appointment) on the first Sunday of the month (April - December).

The museum, which opened in 1995, is home to the first MFD ambulance (a 1947 Cadillac), and two trucks built in the MFD shop during the 1920s and 30s. All displays are located on the first floor and accessible.

The 94-year-old building features a dormitory-style bunkroom, a vintage kitchen, a locker room, a hose tower, an alarm area and a vintage fire officer's office. Other cool things to look for: different construction styles and materials, including terrazzo floors and push-bottom light switches.

You can take a guided tour, or explore at your own pace using the museum guide sheet. Admission and street parking are free, but donations are always graciously accepted.

What: Milwaukee Fire Department Museum & Historical Society

Where: 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53215

When: April - December, 1st Sunday of the month, 1 - 3 p.m. (or by appointment)

More info:

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