Archive of Curated Showcases
PAST EXHIBITIONS
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Firehouse: The Photography of Jill Freedman
On display through Spring 2024
Showcasing award-winning photographer Jill Freedman's moving collection of photographs documented New York City firefighters on the job in the '70s. Firehouse: The Photography of Jill Freedman. The exhibition featured a number of images contained in Freedman's book, Firehouse, which was released in 1977 and garnered rave reviews highlighting their honesty and grit that captured the danger, tragedy, heroism, and camaraderie of being a firefighter in New York City. CNN once described the photographs as "images that described a community of men in their full humanity, heroic but not just heroes. Pictures of terrible danger met moments of rough tenderness, then all gave way to goofball antics back at the station."
To create this display of heroism and heart, Freedman lived among the firefighters in the Bronx and Harlem for more than a year as she chronicled their work. She followed groups for six days at a time, sleeping in the backseat of cars or on the floor between engines.
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Becoming the Bravest
October 2023 - April 2024
"Becoming the Bravest" highlighted the journey and training every New York City firefighter had to take to become one. The focal point of this exhibit was that all firefighters—from the newly graduated to the highest-ranking uniformed member, the Chief of Department—all started in the same place: the Probationary Firefighters School at the Fire Academy. Using photographs, uniforms, helmets, patches, firefighter equipment and other unique artifacts from the Museum's collection, as well as information, photographs, and video supplied by the Department, the Museum educated visitors about the incredible journey undertaken to become New York's Bravest.
Recovery and Reflection, Celebrating the 9/11 Tribute Museum
August 30, 2023 - October 15 2023
Recovery and Reflection, Celebrating the 9/11 Tribute featured 15 panels that were previously on display at the 9/11 Tribute Museum, which was founded by the September 11th Families' Association and closed in August 2022. Spread over four panels are the victims' names; additional panels display photos with quotes from key FDNY members, such as the former New York City Fire Commissioners Daniel Nigro and Sal Cassano, as well as firefighter Lee Ielpi.
Visitors also saw a slideshow of photos illustrating the heroic acts of that day and the aftermath, photos of tributes that sprung up around firehouses after 9/11, as well as a short video of retired firefighter Bill Spade, who served with the FDNY from January 1985 to March 2003. Spade is the only Firefighter from Rescue 5 who made it home that day.
Strike Up the Band
April 26, 2023 – August 2023
From the creation of the first FDNY band in 1900 through the early 21st century, members of the department used music to celebrate the achievements of the department in parades and exhibitions, and to mourn their losses at funerals. The first band in the department was formed in 1900, but only lasted a few years. In 1913, a full marching band was organized, and appeared in parades throughout the city, while also traveling the country performing in competitions. In 1920, a Bugle and Drum Corp was formed and coexisted with the marching band. With the formation of the Emerald Society (the Department's Fraternal Irish Organization) in 1956, bagpipes came to the forefront of the department's musical efforts, and remained symbolic of the department's musical endeavors. The FDNY Pipes and Drums was formed in 1962 and existed proudly for decades, performing in parades and dedications, while also mourning every fallen member at funerals.
The New York City Fire Museum's exhibition "Strike Up the Band: A Tribute to the Bands of the Bravest" explored the rich history of the Department's musicians. Drawing upon the museum's diverse collection, the exhibition took the visitor through over 100 years of musical history. Using historic objects such as bagpipes and drums, uniforms, trophies, and photographs from throughout the bands' histories, as well as modern video displays, visitors could explore this little-known aspect of the department.
One Day in September
August 24, 2022 - October 2, 2022
As New York City and the world mark the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Museum is presenting a new exhibition, One Day in September, which recognizes the valiant efforts of first responders through a series of profound, editorial-style portraits, created by renowned photographer Richard Wiesel.
Wiesel’s first solo exhibition in New York, One Day in September includes photographs featuring personal artifacts provided by first-responders’ family members, and family members with these items, taken during a series of short interviews in New York City in 2019 and 2020. The photographs, paired with short interviews, are at turns poignant and thought-provoking, and illustrate the impact of the 9/11 attacks on those who responded on that tragic day and their loved ones.
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Unmasking our Heroes
April 15, 2022 – August 2022
In 2022, the Museum presented “Unmasking Our Heroes,” a special exhibit that celebrated the valiant efforts of the FDNY - and specifically the Emergency Medical Service members – the Paramedics, EMTs, and officers of the New York City Fire Department – during the pandemic, as well as the public's outpouring of support for first responders during that challenging time.
The COVID-19 pandemic is an historic event in the history of the world, our country, our city and the FDNY. The men and women of the FDNY have been on the front line, responding to thousands of requests for medical assistance related to the pandemic. On one day alone, FDNY members responded to over 6,500 911 calls - that is the single busiest day in the history of EMS.
Unmasking Our Heroes featured dozens of poignant images – including a moving video in which FDNY EMTs and Paramedics reflect on their service during the last two years – as well artifacts curated from the public and other items that highlight the heroism and extraordinary efforts of New York City’s Paramedics, EMTs and Firefighters.
The Museum, which is committed to preserving the history of the FDNY, began curating the exhibition and seeking contributions from the public shortly after the pandemic began and New York City went into lockdown in March 2020. The exhibition also featured an interactive component allowing the public to leave personal messages thanking EMS and all members of the FDNY.
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Dust to DNA
September 6, 2022 - February 28, 2022.
In recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, the NYC Fire Museum hosted a special, limited time, exhibition of the photography of Michael Collarone and Kevin Clarke. Photographs taken by Michael, a first responder to the World Trade Center, were digitally modified by Kevin using the DNA of survivors of the attack. The result puts a meaningful human touch on each image.
