{"id":24,"date":"2018-08-08T11:28:20","date_gmt":"2018-08-08T11:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/about-us\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T15:24:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T15:24:40","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n <\/span>
\n
\n \n
\n
\n

About The Fire Museum of Maryland<\/h1> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n

Our Mission<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

The mission of the Fire Museum of Maryland is to engage the public in the history, technology, and innovation of the fire service through a unique collection of operating apparatus, memorabilia, and programs while also teaching fire safety and emergency preparedness for audiences of all ages.<\/strong><\/h4> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \""I \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n “I hate unique pieces in storage, I want to get them out there to share with everyone!”\n\n
Steve Heaver, Curator <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Our Story<\/h3>\n

The Fire Museum of Maryland is one of the largest fire museums in America. \u00a0Located in Lutherville, MD (Baltimore County), the Museum is a leading institution in preserving, restoring and interpreting the history of the urban fire service in the U.S.<\/p>\n

The Museum was founded in 1971 and houses a world-class collection of historic hand engines, horse-drawn, steam-powered and motorized vehicles. Exhibits include firefighting tools, antique toys, Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, a working Fire Alarm Office, and a Children’s Discovery Room. We feature curriculum-based educational tours in science, history, and technology. Meeting rooms, party rentals, and antique vehicle rentals are available.<\/p>\n

The apparatus provides an immersive visual setting to tell the story of urban firefighting in America from 1806 to the present. Many of our restored apparatus are working road vehicles. The crown jewels in our firefighting history tour are an 1856 Agnew hand engine, an 1899 American steamer, a 1905 Hale water tower, a 1918 Mack \u201cBulldog\u201d ladder truck, a 1922 Ahrens -Fox pumping engine, and a 1947 Mack Floodlight Wagon.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \n
\n
\n \"fire-museum-maryland-trucks-cartoon\" \n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n
One of our\u00a0newest exhibits\u00a0features a large collection of fire-themed prints and early twentieth-century toys donated as a gift from the McLaughlin Company Insurance Agency of Rockville, Maryland. This collection has been photographed and cataloged, and the exhibit is now\u00a0open to the public.\u00a0<\/h5> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Maryland-Fire-Museum-firebox555\" \n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \"The-Fire-Museum-History-1971\" \n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n
In 2005, the Museum restored and installed a cast-iron building facade from Baltimore’s Engine Co. #8 built in 1871. The facade serves as the entry into the \u201cLife of the Fireman\u201d exhibit. Special thanks to Grants from the 1772 Foundation, Preservation Maryland, and significant gifts from private donors that enabled the construction of this exhibit.\u00a0<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Our firefighting tools, patches, helmets, and memorabilia engage children and adults and tell the story of firefighting. The antique Watch Desk and Fire Alarm Office educate on the history and technology of emergency communications from 1860 to the present.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Our Jasper & Anna Peabody Marsh Research Center houses over 13,000 documents, catalogs, photographs, negatives, and books. These materials are used for research to help tell a more complete story of the history of the fire service. We feature exhibits dedicated to local, regional, and national firefighters and a Wall of Honor for Baltimore County Volunteer Firefighters. Our Museum staff is available to assist with custom research and historical documentation of local firefighters.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
The Special Exhibits Room is a multi-purpose space containing our collection of fire-related toys, scale models, medical service items, and fire boat exhibit. The Rare Prints Gallery allows the Museum to display special collections in a climate controlled atmosphere.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
The Children\u2019s Discovery Room is a child-friendly place to play with hands-on activities, child-sized turnout gear, and engine children can \u201cdrive\u201d as they are inspired in a role as a future firefighter. Adults will enjoy this \u201cdowntime\u201d as the children endlessly play.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
The museum is open year-round on Saturdays 10-4, During the summer months (June-August) we are open Wed.-Sat. 10-4. Tours for children, adults, seniors and special needs adults can be arranged by appointment 7 days a week (dates subject to availability). Meeting Rentals are available.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
The non-profit 501(c)(3) Fire Museum of Maryland grew from a collection that had been amassed over more than 40 years by the Heaver Family. It now exists to share the complete story of the history of the urban fire service in America.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Since its founding in 1971, the Museum has expanded the depth of its collections to become a professionally run institution that is open to the public. The Fire Museum receives funding from Baltimore County, donors, members, planned giving, admissions, and visitors like you.<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n

Museum Hours<\/h2>\n

The Museum is open on Saturdays year-round – 10am-4pm<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Open June, July, and August Wed-Fri – 10a<\/span>m-4pm<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

The museum occasionally has additional special hours outside those listed above, such as for the Holiday Season. Please be sure to check our Google Profile or Facebook Page<\/span>\u00a0or call to check on these specialized hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Fire Museum Staff<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Jeff \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Jeff Buchheit
\nDirector
\n410-321-7500 Ext. 107<\/br> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n Email Jeff <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Steve \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Steve Heaver
\nCurator
\n410-321-7500 Ext. 101
<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n Email Steve <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Nathan \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Nathan Davis
\nAssistant Director
\n410-321-7500 Ext. 106
<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n Email Nathan <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Aaron \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Aaron Lippincott
\nEducation Director
\n410-321-7500 Ext. 102
<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n Email Aaron <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Amy \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Amy Landsman
\nPublic Relations & Rentals Director
\n410-321-7500 Ext. 103 <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n Email Amy <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Tom \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Tom Miller
\nAssistant Curator
\n410-321-7500
<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n Email Tom <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Marjorie \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Marjorie Hampson
\nStore Manager
\n410-321-7500 Ext. 112<\/br> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n Email Marjorie <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Ed \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Ed Burgee
\nCollections Assistant
\n410-321-7500<\/br> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n Email Ed <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Melissa \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Melissa Heaver
\nRegistrar
\n410-321-7500<\/br> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Gary \n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n Gary Hartner
\nArchivist\/ Registrar
\n410-321-7500<\/br> <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n Email Gary <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Board Members<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n

Mr. Thomas M. Bruggman, Ph.D., President<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mr. Jack Day<\/span><\/h4>\n

Chief. Dean A. Denning<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Mr. Philip G. Ghassemieh<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mr. Jordan\u00a0 M. Halle, Esq<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mrs. Melissa M. Heaver<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mr. Stephen G. Heaver<\/span><\/h4> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n
\n

Mr. Thomas B. Heaver<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mr. Todd Huff<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mr. James E. Melia, Secretary<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mr. Ross A. Shaffer<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mr. W. Lee Smith III, Treasurer<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mr. Eric S. Walker, Vice-President<\/span><\/h4> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n \n Contact The Fire Museum of Maryland Today <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

About The Fire Museum of Maryland<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"builder_content":"

About The Fire Museum of Maryland<\/h1>\n

Our Mission<\/h2>\n

The mission of the Fire Museum of Maryland is to engage the public in the history, technology, and innovation of the fire service through a unique collection of operating apparatus, memorabilia, and programs while also teaching fire safety and emergency preparedness for audiences of all ages.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\""I \"I hate unique pieces in storage, I want to get them out there to share with everyone!\"\n
Steve Heaver, Curator\n\n

Our Story<\/h3>

The Fire Museum of Maryland is one of the largest fire museums in America. \u00a0Located in Lutherville, MD (Baltimore County), the Museum is a leading institution in preserving, restoring and interpreting the history of the urban fire service in the U.S.<\/p>

The Museum was founded in 1971 and houses a world-class collection of historic hand engines, horse-drawn, steam-powered and motorized vehicles. Exhibits include firefighting tools, antique toys, Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, a working Fire Alarm Office, and a Children's Discovery Room. We feature curriculum-based educational tours in science, history, and technology. Meeting rooms, party rentals, and antique vehicle rentals are available.<\/p>

The apparatus provides an immersive visual setting to tell the story of urban firefighting in America from 1806 to the present. Many of our restored apparatus are working road vehicles. The crown jewels in our firefighting history tour are an 1856 Agnew hand engine, an 1899 American steamer, a 1905 Hale water tower, a 1918 Mack \u201cBulldog\u201d ladder truck, a 1922 Ahrens -Fox pumping engine, and a 1947 Mack Floodlight Wagon.<\/p>\n\"fire-museum-maryland-trucks-cartoon\"\n

One of our\u00a0newest exhibits\u00a0features a large collection of fire-themed prints and early twentieth-century toys donated as a gift from the McLaughlin Company Insurance Agency of Rockville, Maryland. This collection has been photographed and cataloged, and the exhibit is now\u00a0open to the public.\u00a0<\/h5>\n\"Maryland-Fire-Museum-firebox555\"\n\"The-Fire-Museum-History-1971\"\nIn 2005, the Museum restored and installed a cast-iron building facade from Baltimore's Engine Co. #8 built in 1871. The facade serves as the entry into the \u201cLife of the Fireman\u201d exhibit. Special thanks to Grants from the 1772 Foundation, Preservation Maryland, and significant gifts from private donors that enabled the construction of this exhibit.\u00a0 \u00a0 Our firefighting tools, patches, helmets, and memorabilia engage children and adults and tell the story of firefighting. The antique Watch Desk and Fire Alarm Office educate on the history and technology of emergency communications from 1860 to the present. \u00a0 Our Jasper & Anna Peabody Marsh Research Center houses over 13,000 documents, catalogs, photographs, negatives, and books. These materials are used for research to help tell a more complete story of the history of the fire service. We feature exhibits dedicated to local, regional, and national firefighters and a Wall of Honor for Baltimore County Volunteer Firefighters. Our Museum staff is available to assist with custom research and historical documentation of local firefighters. \u00a0 The Special Exhibits Room is a multi-purpose space containing our collection of fire-related toys, scale models, medical service items, and fire boat exhibit. The Rare Prints Gallery allows the Museum to display special collections in a climate controlled atmosphere. \u00a0 The Children\u2019s Discovery Room is a child-friendly place to play with hands-on activities, child-sized turnout gear, and engine children can \u201cdrive\u201d as they are inspired in a role as a future firefighter. Adults will enjoy this \u201cdowntime\u201d as the children endlessly play. \u00a0 The museum is open year-round on Saturdays 10-4, During the summer months (June-August) we are open Wed.-Sat. 10-4. Tours for children, adults, seniors and special needs adults can be arranged by appointment 7 days a week (dates subject to availability). Meeting Rentals are available. \u00a0 The non-profit 501(c)(3) Fire Museum of Maryland grew from a collection that had been amassed over more than 40 years by the Heaver Family. It now exists to share the complete story of the history of the urban fire service in America. \u00a0 Since its founding in 1971, the Museum has expanded the depth of its collections to become a professionally run institution that is open to the public. The Fire Museum receives funding from Baltimore County, donors, members, planned giving, admissions, and visitors like you.\n

Museum Hours<\/h2>

The Museum is open on Saturdays year-round - 10am-4pm<\/h3>

Open June, July, and August Wed-Fri - 10am-4pm<\/h3>

The museum occasionally has additional special hours outside those listed above, such as for the Holiday Season. Please be sure to check our Google Profile or Facebook Page\u00a0or call to check on these specialized hours.\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n

Fire Museum Staff<\/h2>\n\"Jeff Jeff Buchheit
Director
410-321-7500 Ext. 107<\/br>\n Email Jeff <\/a>\n\"Steve Steve Heaver
Curator
410-321-7500 Ext. 101
\n Email Steve <\/a>\n\"Nathan Nathan Davis
Assistant Director
410-321-7500 Ext. 106
\n Email Nathan <\/a>\n\"Aaron Aaron Lippincott
Education Director
410-321-7500 Ext. 102
\n Email Aaron <\/a>\n\n\"Amy Amy Landsman
Public Relations & Rentals Director
410-321-7500 Ext. 103\n Email Amy <\/a>\n\"Tom Tom Miller
Assistant Curator
410-321-7500
\n Email Tom <\/a>\n\"Marjorie Marjorie Hampson
Store Manager
410-321-7500 Ext. 112<\/br>\n Email Marjorie <\/a>\n\"Ed Ed Burgee
Collections Assistant
410-321-7500<\/br>\n Email Ed <\/a>\n\n\"Melissa Melissa Heaver
Registrar
410-321-7500<\/br>\n\"Gary Gary Hartner
Archivist\/ Registrar
410-321-7500<\/br>\n Email Gary <\/a>\n\n

Board Members<\/h2>\n

Mr. Thomas M. Bruggman, Ph.D., President<\/h4>

Mr. Jack Day<\/h4>

Chief. Dean A. Denning\u200b<\/h4>

Mr. Philip G. Ghassemieh<\/h4>

Mr. Jordan\u00a0 M. Halle, Esq<\/h4>

Mrs. Melissa M. Heaver<\/h4>

Mr. Stephen G. Heaver<\/h4>\n

Mr. Thomas B. Heaver<\/h4>

Mr. Todd Huff<\/h4>

Mr. James E. Melia, Secretary<\/h4>

Mr. Ross A. Shaffer<\/h4>

Mr. W. Lee Smith III, Treasurer<\/h4>

Mr. Eric S. Walker, Vice-President<\/h4>\n\n Contact The Fire Museum of Maryland Today <\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24"}],"version-history":[{"count":175,"href":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1433,"href":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24\/revisions\/1433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qbswebdesign.com\/thefiremuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}