Entry No. 23 — the Minneapolis file — filed under: history
Bill & Bonnie Daniels Firefighters Hall & Museum
Spanning 12,000 square feet, this volunteer-run museum houses a massive collection of historic fire engines, steam pumpers, and firefighting equipment dating back to the 1860s.
The story
Tucked into Northeast Minneapolis at 664 22nd Avenue NE, this 12,000-square-foot hall isn't a glossy municipal shrine with velvet ropes. It's a hands-on, volunteer-run repository built by folks who know every valve, bell, and iron fitting on regional firefighting equipment stretching all the way back to the 1860s.
Inside, you're standing next to steam pumpers, early hand-pulled hose carts, and historic city engines. The collection tracks the mechanical evolution of fighting fires in Minnesota before automated hydrants and modern electronics took over, offering a raw, physical look at late 19th- and 20th-century emergency response.
What it's like
Show up on the second or fourth Saturday of the month when the volunteers open the doors to the public. You can haul yourself up onto a vintage 1919 Mankato aerial ladder truck and strap into heavy, authentic turnout gear to get a real sense of the weight. Because it's entirely volunteer-operated with sparse public hours, double-check their current schedule right before you drive over.
The move: Visit on the second or fourth Saturday of the month to climb aboard a vintage 1919 Mankato aerial ladder truck and try on heavy, authentic turn-out gear.
- 📍 Northeast Minneapolis
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 664 22nd Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Rogue Buddha Gallery — Trade century-old fire engines for dark pop-surrealist art at this moody gallery less than a mile down the road.
- Beltrami Park — Follow up 19th-century municipal history with a walk over the 19th-century potter's field hidden directly beneath Beltrami Park.
- Twelve Vultures — Keep the Northeast preservation theme going by browsing the taxidermy and skeletal artifacts at this local curiosity shop.
Good to know
When can you visit the museum?
Public access is generally restricted to the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, though you should confirm open hours online before visiting.
Are you allowed to touch the equipment?
Yes. On public Saturday openings, visitors are encouraged to try on real turnout gear and climb aboard historic trucks like the 1919 Mankato aerial ladder.
What kinds of items are in the collection?
The 12,000-square-foot hall contains vintage fire engines, steam pumpers, antique firefighting tools, and gear dating back to the 1860s.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · familyfuntwincities.com
last checked: 2026-07-21