Heroes of the City: Early Firefighters of the San Francisco Fire Department

Join SFO Curator Dennis Sharp for a closer look at SFO Museum’s Heroes of the City exhibitionas he shares the intriguing stories behind the objects on display and Jamie O’Keefe, Curator of the Guardians of the City Museum, the primary lender to this exhibition, who will provide a glimpse into GOTC’s incredible SFFD collection and the work being done to preserve and share this history.

About the Exhibition

As San Francisco rapidly grew from a small village into a bustling city during the chaotic early years of the California Gold Rush, the city’s firefighters heroically battled one devastating blaze after another in a landscape often rebuilt with materials that made it susceptible to fire. Between 1849 and 1852 alone, the city was nearly burned down six times. At first, all firefighters were volunteers who risked their lives without compensation. In the early years, firefighters used tow-ropes to pull heavy hand-pumped fire engines, as well as hose and ladder carts, to fires on foot while navigating the city’s steep hills. In 1866, San Francisco established a professional, paid fire department. Over time, as the city expanded, the department transitioned to horse-drawn steam engines and carts, and by 1921, it became fully motorized. SFO Museum’s current exhibition, Heroes of the City: Early Firefighters of the San Francisco Fire Department, explores its early history from 1849 to the 1920s and features equipment, helmets, badges, and images, many of which have never been on public display.

Light refreshments will be served.

Learn More about the Exhibition

VIEW THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition is located post-security in Harvey Milk Terminal 1. Visitors may apply in advance for SFO's Gate Explorer Pass Program to access the gallery. A REAL ID or passport is required, and all visitors must comply with TSA regulations.
https://gateexplorer.flysfo.com/sfo

Free parking is offered when you bring your parking ticket to the Aviation Museum and Library. (Note: Please do not put your parking ticket near your cellphone or metal). For those taking BART to the airport, there is a stop at the International Terminal.(https://www.sfomuseum.org/aviation-museum-library/hours-directions)