Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center
3639 Parsons AveColumbus, Ohio 43215
614-464-4099 | https://centralohiofiremuseum.wordpress.com/
The Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center
The Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center teaches fire prevention for people of all ages and tells the history of firefighting in the Columbus area.
The Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center is a must-see for travelers interested in the history of firefighting. Located within the old Engine House Number 13, the museum highlights the equipment used by Ohio’s firefighters past and present. Visitors retrace the evolution of firefighting from mostly hand drawn or horse-drawn fire apparatuses to the motorized fire trucks seen today. Original pieces from the station and around Columbus are also on display. The restored building still has many of its original brass poles and the call boxes that once dotted the city. As the last fire station in Columbus to house horses, the museum also restored portions of the old stables. Horses no longer call the station home, but the stables serve as a reminder of the role the animals played in firefighting history.
The museum also has family-friendly education spaces designed to help visitors, especially children, learn fire safety. Walk through a burned bedroom or visit the burned item display to learn about the intense heat created by household fires. The fire station’s full-scale display kitchen shows the most common locations where kitchen fires begin. Children can also enjoy the station’s play area, where they can dress up as firefighters and slide an original firepole, all while taking in the museum’s history.
The history of firefighting in central Ohio stretches nearly 200 years. The restored station where the museum is located dates to 1908 and was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. A complete roster of Columbus firefighters is also kept at the museum in addition to several yearbooks containing photographs. For travelers interested in fire safety or learning more about firefighting in Ohio, the Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center is a stop second to none.
Notes for Travelers
The museum has its own parking lot downtown which can accommodate large vehicles including busses.