At the Fire Museum of Maryland, one of the most striking artifacts is the historic fireboat known as “Tommy,” officially the Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro Jr. Commissioned in 1956 as Baltimore’s first diesel-powered fireboat, Tommy served the city’s busy waterfront for decades, battling pier fires, shipboard emergencies, and industrial blazes with an almost unlimited water supply drawn directly from the harbor.

After nearly 60 years of service, the vessel was retired in 2015, and a significant portion was preserved and carefully transported to the museum, where it now stands as a centerpiece of maritime firefighting history. Restored by dedicated volunteers, the exhibit highlights the vital role fireboats played in protecting Baltimore’s port and offers visitors a close-up look at the technology, teamwork, and courage required to fight fires from the water.