Fireman's Hall Museum

03/17/2021

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the PFD and support the museum with your purchase. Challenge coin and patch are now available in our store!

09/11/2020

We honor the heroes of September 11th every day at the museum. Our 9/11 exhibit went on display in March, 2002. Today, we solemnly remember the 343 firefighters that made the ultimate sacrifice.

09/07/2020

Girard Fire and Marine Insurance Company
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1853 – 1956

Tinned sheet iron fire mark, referred to as “tin”; Bulau #226; 6 7/8” X 3 1/4”
From the Harold E. Gillingham Collection

The Girard Fire and Marine Insurance Company, whose building was on the Northeast corner of Seventh and Chestnut Streets, was one of fifteen Philadelphia fire insurance companies to issue a fire mark. The Girard’s mark was used outside Philadelphia in the Midwest where tin marks, known as house plates, predominated

08/29/2020

This week we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the We thought it appropriate to honor the history of

women. Learn about firehouse matrons and take a moment to read more about those serving, both past and present. https://bit.ly/3b3z1h2

08/03/2020

Pittsburgh Navigation and Fire Insurance Company

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1832 – 1849



Cast iron fire mark; Bulau #122; 12 1/2” X 9”; 6.8 pounds

From the Harold E. Gillingham Collection



Originally the lettering and raised rim were gold. The only one of three Pittsburgh companies that issued fire marks to survive the Great Fire of 1845. The company wrote fire and marine insurance. As a marine insurer, the company issued a 5% insurance discount on steamboats that did not serve liquor.

06/30/2020

We are so excited to be partnering with Wawa once again for Wawa's annual Welcome America. We have a lineup of exciting activites, and informative videos. Follow this link to see what we have been up to:

Previous Next June 30th, 2020 | 9:00 am - 12:00 am Live from your living room. Join “Pershing’s Own” as we celebrate our Independence, together. Connect to the biggest screen in the house, as we bring a virtual, patrioti

05/21/2020

A throwback to our last golf outing! Unfortunately due to the global pandemic, we have postponed our annual golf outing. However, we couldn't resist sharing this gorgeous picture from last years outing. We hope it brings you as much joy as it brings us!

05/20/2020

Did you know that the history of fire fighters staffing ambulance services goes back to the Civil War? Members of the Southwark Hose Co. purchased an ambulance to transport wounded soldiers to hospitals. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2AJiRLU

05/18/2020

Firemen’s Insurance Company
Baltimore, Maryland
1825 – 1904
Cast iron fire mark

Originally owned and managed by the active and honorary volunteer firemen and the individual fire companies of Baltimore, the fire mark of the Firemen’s Insurance Company depicts a Philadelphia-style, double-decker end stroke hand engine used by the firemen in Baltimore at the time. This circular mark, whose engine was gold gilded, was one of the largest made in America and available to the policyholder for a one-time charge of $1.25 as long as the insurance was continued. If cancelled, the mark was returned to the company.

05/11/2020

Fire Department Insurance Company
Cincinnati, Ohio
1837 – ca 1848

In 1837 the volunteer firemen in Cincinnati organized a fire insurance company named the Fire Department Insurance Company. They issued a fire mark of which depicted a Philadelphia-style, double-decker end stroke hand engine. No doubt the fire mark was issued to advertise their new company which was in competition with the Firemen’s Insurance Company of Cincinnati.

05/04/2020

Baltimore Equitable Society

Baltimore, Maryland

1784 – Present

Fire mark: Cast iron, circa 1927



This is the fifth style of fire mark issued by the company and shows the clasped hands symbolizing mutuality and the year of organization. The company still issues these marks, now made of aluminum. The bright gold hands and numbers on a black background may be seen on many homes throughout the Baltimore area.