Welcome to the Museum

Welcome

"The museum is now open until October 2nd on the weekends.

Welcome to the Home Page of the Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum and Preservation Society, Inc. The museum is located at 300B South Seton Avenue in Emmitsburg, 2 blocks north of the National Emergency Training Center and the National Fire Academy.

Our mission is to protect, preserve and display the artifacts of the history and tradition of the fire and rescue service of Frederick County, Maryland. With the purchase of the first fire engine by the City of Frederick in 1764, fire protection has been consistently provided to the citizens of our county.

As you “Walk Through the History of the Frederick County Fire & Rescue Service”, you will find artifacts, pictures, and apparatus that tell the story of the individual companies and the many members of the county fire and rescue service.

The William Cochran glass etching “Volunteers” was lit in red the night of October 5, for “Light Up the Night”, in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. On October 5, buildings, bridges and iconic symbols around our nation were lit in red in honor of all firefighters being remembered at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg. Production crew members working with the memorial weekend placed red stage lighting behind the etching to produce the red highlight of the etching. Families of the fallen heroes viewed the red etching as they departed the Candlelight Service at the memorial.

Etching RED for Fallen Firefighters Memorial

Three of the featured pieces of apparatus are:

The “Old Lady”, a hand tub pumper built around 1848 for the Mechanical Fire Company No.1 of Baltimore and served both the United Fire Co. No. 3 in Frederick and the United Volunteer Fire Company of Libertytown. This pumper, a later version of the original “Old Lady”, was recently restored in pumping condition and effectively pumped water at the commemoration of the 1861 Frederick County Court House Fire and 200th anniversary muster of the Independent Hose Co. No. 1.

The 1939 Ahrens-Fox piston pumper is owned by the United Fire Co. No. 3 in Frederick. This massive engine fully restored and operational is still seen at musters and was recently featured in Fire Apparatus Journal.

The 1893 Hand drawn hose carriage built in Baltimore, Md. by Mr. Charles T. Holloway & Co. “Romeo”, this beautifully ornate hose carriage, was in-service from 1893 - 1926, originally purchased and proudly owned by The Independent Hose Co. No.1 in Frederick, Md. The “Romeo” was built in honor of the election of Mr. J. Roger McSherry as the first president of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association, organized in Frederick in 1893.

We invite you to share with us the tradition and history of the Frederick County, Maryland fire and Rescue Service by visiting the museum or contacting us at museum@frederickmdfiremuseum.org.

Hours of Operation

April 2nd - October 2nd, 2022.

Open Noon to 4 pm

Closed on the following weekends

Easter weekend

Memorial Day weekend

July 4th weekend

Labor Day weekend

Mailing address

Frederick County Fire & Rescue and Preservation Society, Inc.

300B South Seton Avenue

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

In case of Emergency please dail 911!