11 fascinating things I saw at the Phoenix Hall of Flame Museum

The Hall of Flame is a Phoenix museum dedicated to all things firefighting. Here are the 11 most interesting things we saw on a recent visit.

At this point, it’s probably safe to say that the phrase “hidden gem” is so overused that it’s almost lost all meaning. But there are exceptions, and the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting in Phoenix is one of them. The attraction, which is dedicated to the art of firefighting, is located in a tan-colored, nondescript warehouse tucked away on Van Buren Street. Inside, however, it proved to be a fascinating place.

What struck me most when I visited was the artistry that went into these fire trucks, many of which are vintage. Before everything was mass-produced in a factory, things were handmade. Think etched glass and hand-painted detailing throughout. It was impressive, and I almost felt as though I were in an art museum.

A former assistant chief of the San Luis Obispo, California, Fire Department, Don Hale, restored many of the pieces found in the museum. He worked at the museum for 35 years and served as its director of restoration. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 94. He signed the pieces he personally restored.

In addition to displaying objects from the history of firefighting, the museum also provides fire safety education and dedications to firefighters who have passed in the line of duty. It was founded in 1961 in Wisconsin and relocated to Scottsdale in 1970. The Hall of Flame opened in its current building in 1974.

Here are the 11 most interesting things I saw during my recent visit.

1. One of the first fire engines

In the first room of the museum, you can see a Newsham Manual Fire Engine that dates back to 1725. It’s named after Richard Newsham, the man who built the first fire engine in 1718. This wooden fire engine was hand-pulled by 20 men. Roughly 60 gallons of water were pumped through its copper nozzle in one minute—pretty great for a piece of historic equipment. The one on display claims to be one of the largest models ever constructed.

2. A horse-drawn rotary sweep pumper from 1882

I personally fell for the light blue and yellow colors of this horse-drawn rotary sweep pumper from 1882. Benjamin Howe created this to compete with fire engines. Horses would actually pull this, and it can produce over 200 gallons per minute. Back in the day, engines were either hand-pulled or drawn by horses. This is one of the few Howe rotaries left.

3. A Ford Model T chief’s car 

Seeing as how the Model T was one of the first very common car models, it makes sense that these would have been outfitted for use by a fire department. The Model T on display here was a striking shade of red and stood out even in a museum packed full of vehicles. This was used as a parade vehicle before the owner’s sons—career firefighters in Washington state—donated it to the museum.

4. A conical-shaped fire extinguisher from Germany

The museum also had a small collection of small extinguishers, including a red conical-shaped one from German company Minimax, which was founded in 1902. We also saw an orange fire extinguisher from England outfitted with what looked like a hand-painted image on it that dated back to 1930.

5. Detailed and historic fire helmets

Another fascinating collection in the museum? Over 100 different helmets in a glass case. We spotted a gold colored metal helmet from France that dated back to 1880. It was so intricate and fancy, like something you’d see in a royal museum. Right by the one from France was another from Germany, circa 1860. There was also a white helmet from Cuba, dating back to 1910, among others.

6. Trumpets or vintage bullhorns

Before bullhorns, there were trumpets. Not the actual instruments, of course, but these were shaped like cones and were used to amplify the voices of fire chiefs.

According to a sign in the museum, the more intricate horns were mostly used for ceremonial purposes. The plainer ones were used just like modern-day bullhorns. One nickel-plated trumpet was from the Volunteer Fire Department based in New London, Connecticut, which the museum estimated dated back to 1890. Another one hailed from Massachusetts and was from 1859. The trumpet features intricate designs, including a three-wheeled carriage that almost looked like Cinderella’s from the classic Disney film.

7. A firefighting breathing apparatus

Garrett A. Morgan developed a firefighter’s breathing apparatus, or a “smoke hood,” that you can see at the Hall of Flame. It does look a little bit like a Darth Vader-type hood, but this device helped save lives. He developed this in response to the 1911 fire at New York’s Triangle Shirtwaist Company, where 146 garment workers died. He also invented the traffic light and referred to himself as the “Black Edison.”

8. 9/11 Memorial Pony

I was in middle school when 9/11 happened, and walking through the museum reminded me of the heroism of the firefighters in New York City on that day. The museum houses a striking and multicolored Fallen Heroes Memorial Pony in its hall dedicated to firefighters who have passed. You can read more about this art project here.

9. A white fire engine

In a sea of red, a white fire engine really stood out. The museum features an American La France Type 400 Fire Engine from 1935. The fire engine was used from 1935 to the 1960s. Only 170 Model 400s were built. Hale restored it. I was impressed by the high level of detail—the white engine body included gold leaf throughout in the form of stripes and what resembled a flower. The engine itself was also something to marvel at.

10. FDNY Rescue 4 Fire Engine from 9/11

One of the Hall of Flame’s most striking exhibits is a restored fire engine that was on ground zero on 9/11. Rescue 4 was just a few blocks away from the Twin Towers. You can even see a photo of the engine right before it was engulfed in a huge plume of smoke. Tragically, all the firefighters in this truck who responded to 9/11 perished when the towers collapsed. The engine was in use until 2011 and has been restored. Read more about this piece here.

11. Granite Mountain Hot Shots buggy

In recent years, wildland fires have sadly become increasingly common. On a tragic day in Arizona history in 2013, 19 wildland firefighters perished while battling the Yarnell Hill Fire. This was the largest loss of wildland firefighters since 1933. The museum features a 2004 Ford Buggy that the crew used. The buggy is on loan from the Los Angeles County Fire Museum. The museum also has an exhibit dedicated to those wildland firefighters, or hotshots.

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