New York City Fire Museum's colonial exhibit takes visitors back in time

The new exhibit "Colonial Firefighting & The American Revolution" focuses on firefighting from 1620 to 1776.

John Tejada

Mar 15, 2023, 9:32 PM

Updated 646 days ago

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The New York City Fire Museum in Hudson Square is taking visitors back in time.
The new exhibit "Colonial Firefighting & The American Revolution" focuses on firefighting from 1620 to 1776.
Guests can explore the early days of what we know as the FDNY. 
“On the walls of the museum, are displayed the story of the colonial FDNY. How it was formed, how it grew, and how it responded to one of the most tragic and urgent fires of the 18th century, which was the Great Fire of 1776.”
Bruce Twickler, a filmmaker, got the idea for the exhibition while searching for a subject for a film.
“This was sort of a preliminary  research project that turned into an exhibit, because we came up with so many things that really were quite astonishing, I thought it would make a good exhibit.”
Guests will also be able to view multimedia presentations depicting major colonial-era events. 
“It shows the birth of bravery, the skill and the dedication of volunteer firemen in those days and the continuity that had.”
The exhibit also features original artworks that show what New York neighborhoods were like back in the day, as well as the first engines used to fight fire 
The exhibit opens March 15 and runs through Aug. 13. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 pm.