(defeo.biz) — A popular fire museum north of Atlanta is closing “for a highly anticipated remodeling project,” city officials said.
The Marietta Fire Museum will close starting tomorrow. It is not clear when the museum will reopen.
The city’s fire department dates to 1854 when a massive blaze destroyed much of the Marietta Square. The museum was subsequently formed to honor the department and showcase firefighting techniques and equipment from the 1800s to the present.
The museum’s collection of firefighting equipment includes Silsby Steamer the city purchased in 1879. Nicknamed “The Aurora,” the horse-drawn pumper served Marietta 1921 and was completely restored in 1992.
It is said to be one of only five still in existence.
A “Wall of Flame” inside the museum features photos from major Marietta fires over the years, including a natural gas explosion ay Atherton Drug Store on Oct. 31, 1963, and a Navy Corsair A-7 Jet crash in November 1989.
The museum is co-located with Fire Station No. 1. The family-friendly is open to the public for free.