Museum

The Orlando Fire Museum (formerly Orlando Firehouse #3) came full circle in 2002, returning to the custody of the Orlando Fire Department after a long lease with the Historical Society of Central Florida.

The two-story, red-brick firehouse was initially located on Orlando Avenue (near Dade Street) in College Park from 1926 until 1978.

When the new Station #3 was built in College Park, the Orlando Science Center moved the old station to Loch Haven Park. The old station had fallen into disrepair and faced an uncertain future. The Science Center, in cooperation with the Central Florida Fire Chief’s Association, immediately began exterior restoration. The interior renovation that followed transformed the old station into a fire museum.

In 1988, the Historical Society installed a new roof, fire stairs on the north side of the building, and restored the bathrooms. The restored station reopened two years later with a celebration and tours to educate young and old on the history of the Orlando Fire Department.

The Historical Museum left Loch Haven Park in 2001, moving to the new Orange CountyRegional History Center in downtown Orlando. Too fragile to be moved a second time, the fire museum stayed behind.

The Orlando Fire Department took over the museum’s lease in 2002 and once again the fire museum was the focus of extensive renovations; including replacing all windows, checking for asbestos, painting the interior, and landscaping. 
 
The City of Orlando now has a wonderful and exciting place to showcase Orlando Fire Department’s history since its inception in 1885!

On June 27, 2002 the museum reopened as the Orlando Fire Museum.