Housed in a 1909 firehouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Colorado Firefighters Museum is a great stop during your trip to Denver. Located near the golden triangle museum district, your family will enjoy this fun, fire truck-filled museum.
After visiting the Colorado History Museum and having lunch, we decided to walk the short half mile over to the Colorado Firefighters Museum. Right away you know this is going to be a cool museum because the building itself is architecturally enchanting. The stone detail and cool double-door wood garage doors pull you in to explore.
Colorado Firefighter Museum Self-Guided Tour
Winding back and forth through the main floor, the narrow one-way path leads through the displays. The first exhibit taught us the history of communicating fire. This area included switchboards, fire alarm boxes, and the history of 911.
The next exhibit showed the advancement of personal protective tools and equipment. Multiple firefighter uniforms showed how safety has evolved over the years and the hand tools used.
Fire apparatus included hand-pulled wagons, horse-drawn fire wagons, and fire trucks! Those who love fire trucks will love dressing like a firefighter and climbing up into a truck to “drive”.
We learned that early dog use in firefighting was by Border Collies and Terriers, not Dalmatians. It was the dog’s job to bark at the horses and nip at their heels to make them go faster. Once at the fire, the dogs herded the horses away from the flames and kept them under control.
After the fire trucks, the self-guided tour lead us upstairs. There isn’t an elevator but if you have the help you can get a stroller up the stairs. Narrow steps lead up to the second floor’s displays of the firefighters’ living quarters at the turn of the century. We explored the lockerrooms, and viewed the officer’s quarters and the family room.
Colorado Firefighters Museum Upstairs Displays
Upstairs displays also include hands-on areas for kids to learn about fire safety and a kids’ corner with fire safety computer games.
Memorial displays post the names of Denver’s fallen firefighters and a memorial to the 9-11 victims completes another wall.
The upstairs is big enough to have 5 fireman’s poles; however, much to the kids’ dismay, the poles were permanently closed to a ride downstairs.
Mon. – Sat 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays & Major Holidays
