Vintage Fire Museum

Jeffersonville Indiana is the home to a historically significant collection of firefighting apparatus and equipment. The Vintage Fire Museum got its start when a local businessman named Fred Conway decided to display his large collection of firefighting artifacts that he had collected and had restored. Conway first opened a museum as part of his successful label making business in New Albany, IN.

He was also the author of several books dealing with firefighting history in the United States. Then, in 1999 he created a stand-alone museum called Vintage Fire Engines Inc. Conway's collection sat behind locked doors for several years until a group called the Friends of the New Albany Fire Museum Inc. They purchased Mr. Conway's collection and started a new museum called the Vintage Fire Museum. After several moves and many more people becoming involved, the Vintage Fire Museum now resides at 706 Spring Street in Jeffersonville, IN. As the museum has expanded, it has become the home of antique firefighting equipment of all types that has been donated or loaned from numerous local members of the fire service. A second museum location was added in Oldham County, Kentucky to house additional equipment including the collection of mid-20th century trucks that previously belonged to the late Doug Dauenhauer. The Vintage Fire Museum has also expanded its public outreach to include having a safety education center at the Spring Street location to teach the public about fire safety in addition to fire service history.