New York City Fire Museum

Opened seven days a week, the two-floor official museum of the FDNY occupies a renovated 1904 Beaux-Arts firehouse at 278 Spring Street in Hudson Square, west of SoHo. The museum is home to a renowned collection of fire-related art and artifacts from the 18th century to the present; including hand-pumped fire engines, horse-drawn vehicles, early motorized apparatus and firefighting tools and equipment. Additionally, it houses a permanent FDNY September 11th Memorial, which features artifacts from the WTC recovery site. Once a year, in the best tradition of the FDNY a ladder truck rescues Santa from his perilous perch on top of the Museum. Once safely inside, Santa takes gift requests and poses for photos. Hot dogs, hot chocolate and Christmas carols round out the event. It is recommended to book tickets early for this event.