York County, PA Fire Museum

Persistence does pay off! I have been trying to get into this museum since I started coming to the National Fire Academy. I had an afternoon flight on a Saturday, my last trip to Emmitsburg. I thought I would take a shot and drove to the City of York and found this beautiful building OPEN!

Antique engines, historic memorabilia, and an old-fashioned Gamewell alarm systems all await you at the York County, PA Fire Museum. Stationed in the historic Royal Fire House, the museum holds collections from the more than 200 years of fire-fighting in York City and County including horse drawn fire carriages, vintage fire trucks, firefighter uniforms, photographs and much more. The galleries are located on multiple levels of this three-story firehouse located 757 West Market Street. The rooms are filled with exciting treasures from York’s rich firefighting history, including motorized and hand-drawn apparatus; horse stalls; helmets; speaking trumpets; and so much more.

In June of 1901, a parcel of land at West Market Street and Carlisle Avenue was purchased for the Royal Fire Company. On December 9, 1901 ground was broken for a temporary engine house at the rear of the lot. On January 3, 1902, the new engine house was occupied, being built to house “two horses, a combination chemical and hose wagon, and one man.” It initially housed an exercise wagon loaned to them by the Rescue Fire Company, which carried two portable chemical fire extinguishers. On February 7, 1902, a new Halloway combination chemical and hose wagon was placed in service.

On February 10, 1902 the company agreed to abide by the provisions of the city ordinances and became a part of the York Fire Department and became the Royal Fire Company No. 6. On January 1, 1979, the Royal fire station was closed and its apparatus placed in reserve status. The Fire Museum of York County had been renting the second and third floors for use as a museum site, and eventually the museum purchased the entire building from the city.