The Fire Museum of Maryland

What The Fire Museum of Maryland does

The Fire Museum of Maryland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1971 and headquartered in Lutherville Timonium, Maryland. It operates a single-site historical museum preserving the history of urban firefighting in America, housing over 40 antique fire apparatus spanning hand-drawn, horse-drawn, and gasoline-powered vehicles, along with one of the world's largest collections of fire alarm communication devices (cited as the fifth largest fire museum collection on display globally). The museum's Jasper & Anna Peabody Marsh Research Center contains more than 6,000 archival documents, some of which are not available at the Library of Congress. Its core experience combines self-guided gallery access with hands-on exhibits including a Discovery Room featuring a 1938 Mack fire engine and dress-up turnout gear, a Holiday Train Garden (seasonal), and themed exhibitions on the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904.

The organization monetizes through a diversified revenue stack: general admission ($15 adult / $13 senior-firefighter / $7 child), a six-tier annual membership program ($75–$325), school group programs at $7 per student aligned with Maryland curriculum standards, virtual field trip programs via video conference, birthday party packages ($300 for up to 35 guests), event venue rentals in a 16,000 sq ft exhibition gallery (up to 200 standing guests), historic vehicle rentals (1935 Stutz, 1947 Mack Floodlight Wagon), a gift shop, and donations/corporate sponsorships. It maintains a staff of approximately 10 paid personnel supplemented by an extensive volunteer network of retired firefighters, historians, woodworkers, and re-enactors. Strategic corporate partners include T. Rowe Price, Whiting-Turner Contracting, and Verizon, with the Baltimore Community Foundation awarding a 2026 Legacy Forward Grant supporting America's 250th Anniversary programming.

The museum serves multiple customer segments: families with children (primary segment), K-8 school groups, scout troops (BSA merit badges, Cub Scout adventures, GSA), adult tour groups, corporate and wedding event renters, and virtual program participants. Distribution is primarily regional (Mid-Atlantic) and conducted through walk-in visitation, staff-assisted group bookings via phone and Google Forms, outreach programs that bring artifacts to schools, and virtual delivery. Operating hours are Saturday-only during the school year, expanding to Wednesday–Saturday during summer months.

Name

The Fire Museum of Maryland

Legal name

Fire Museum of Maryland, Inc.

Website

https://firemuseummd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Fire Museum of Maryland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that operates a single-site historical museum in Lutherville, MD preserving American firefighting heritage through 40+ antique apparatus, a 6,000-document research archive, K-8 educational programs, scout merit badge programs, event rentals, and curated public events for families, schools, and adult tour groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Historical museum exhibits
• Educational field trips
• Museum venue rentals
• Firefighting heritage preservation
• Community event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Lutherville Timonium

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: Visitors pay admission fees to access the museum's collection of over 40 antique fire apparatus, exhibits, and special displays. Adults $15, Seniors/Firefighters $13, Children (2-18) $7, Under 2 free.
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships sold at multiple tiers (Individual $75, Family $125, Engineer $150, Lieutenant $175, Captain $225, Chief $325) providing unlimited admission, shop discounts, and various perks. Members receive free admission.
3. Event Rentals: The 16,000 sq ft exhibition gallery accommodates up to 200 guests for standing receptions or 150 for seated meals. Available for weddings, corporate meetings, and private events 7 days a week with free parking.
4. Birthday Party Packages: $300 for 2-hour private party room rental including Discovery Room access, with add-ons available. Maximum 35 guests. $50 non-refundable deposit required.
5. Vehicle Rentals: Historic vehicles including 1935 Stutz and 1947 Mack Floodlight Wagon available for weddings, VIP transport, and event photos. Contact Amy Landsman for reservations.
6. Gift Shop Sales: Sells apparel, books, collectibles, challenge coins, patches, prints, and research services. Products include Tommy T-shirts ($22.50-$27.50), Seagrave T-shirts ($19.95-$24.95), books ($41-$48), and research assistance ($20 per 2 hours).
7. Donations and Sponsorships: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, museum relies on individual donations and corporate sponsorships. Strategic partners include T. Rowe Price, Whiting-Turner, and Verizon. Donations are tax-exempt.
8. Educational Programs: School group programs priced at $7/student with $70 minimum. Add-ons include Fire Rescue Game ($3/child), Discovery Room ($30/group), lunch space ($50/group), and visiting firefighter demonstrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Fire Museum of Maryland operates a single-site historical museum in Lutherville, MD, preserving firefighting heritage through a collection of over 40 antique fire apparatus and more than 6,000 archival documents. The museum offers general admission, educational programs for K-8 students aligned with Maryland curriculum standards, scout merit badge programs, adult guided tours, birthday party packages, event and wedding venue rentals, a gift shop, and a research center.

Product overview

The Fire Museum of Maryland operates as a single-site museum preserving the history of fire fighting since 1971. The museum offers a portfolio of interconnected offerings centered around its core 45+ antique fire apparatus collection and exhibits. The primary visitor experience combines general museum admission with guided tours and self-guided Discovery Room access. Educational programs (K-8, Scout, Adult, and Virtual) form a major component, aligned with Maryland curriculum standards. Additional revenue streams include facility rentals (birthday parties, weddings, meetings), historic vehicle rentals, and a retail shop selling merchandise and publications. The museum also offers a Research Center for archival inquiries and seasonal events like the Holiday Train Garden. Membership programs provide ongoing engagement with tiered benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Admission General admission to the Fire Museum of Maryland's collection of 40+ antique fire apparatus and exhibits. Adults $15, Seniors/Firefighters $13, Children ages 2-18 $7, and children under 2 free. Open Saturdays year-round and Wednesdays-Saturdays during summer months.
• K-8 Education Programs Curriculum-aligned educational programs for K-8 students including Bucket Brigade, Great Baltimore Fire, Electricity Lab, Science of Fire Safety, and Forest Vs. Flame. Programs align with Maryland Curriculum standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Priced at $7/student.
• Scout Programs Scout programs including Scouts BSA Merit Badge Programs (Collections, Fire Safety, Safety, Art, Signs/Signals/Codes, Traffic Safety), Cub Scout Adventure Programs, and GSA/Brownie First Aid Badges. Conducted through official MB Councilor registered with Baltimore Area Council.
• Adult Tours Guided tours for adults covering History of the American Fire Service, Life in an 1871 Fire House, The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, Isn't that Lady Liberty, Fire Alarm Telegraph Office, and outreach programs.
• Virtual Programs Virtual education programs including Virtual Bucket Brigade, Virtual Science of Fire Safety, and virtual adult tours, delivered via video conference platforms for remote schools and groups.
• Birthday Party Rentals Child birthday party packages held in decorated party rooms with optional add-ons including visiting firefighter, Fire Rescue Game, or engine ride. Cost: $300 for 2 hours, maximum capacity 35 guests. $50 non-refundable deposit required.
• Event Rentals Wedding and meeting venue rentals in the 16,000 square foot exhibition gallery accommodating up to 150 seated or 200 standing guests, with smaller rooms for 10-40 guests. Available 7 days a week with free parking and smoke-free environment.
• Vehicle Rentals Historic vehicle rentals including a restored 1935 Stutz and 1947 Mack Floodlight Wagon for weddings, VIP transport, and event photos, with driver included.
• Holiday Train Garden Seasonal O-scale train layout exhibit featuring Baltimore-area businesses, working fire engines, multiple trains, and a subway, open November through December as part of museum admission.
• Membership Program Multi-tiered annual membership program including Individual/Firefighter/Senior ($75), Family ($125), Engineer ($150), Lieutenant ($175), Captain ($225), and Chief ($325) levels with unlimited admission, shop discounts, free passes, and event tickets.
• Museum Shop Retail shop selling apparel (Tommy T-shirts, Seagrave T-shirts), books (The Unheralded Heroes, Baltimore Builders of Fire Apparatus, Fire Department Telegraph Registers), collectibles (Fireboat Tommy Challenge Coins), patches, prints, and research services.
• Research Center The Jasper & Anna Peabody Marsh Research Center offering archival research on fire-related subjects with over 6,000 documents, available for students and scholars for $20 per 2 hours.
• Discovery Room Interactive children's exhibit featuring a 1938 Mack fire engine to explore, turnout gear for dress-up, fire-related books, toys, and videos.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fifth largest fire museum collection in the world
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Baltimore Community FoundationcoreOthersAwarded Legacy Forward Grant to support public programming connected to America's 250th Anniversary celebration. Partnership enables free admission to the 250th Anniversary Celebration event on July 3, 2026.
• T. Rowe PriceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic corporate partner supporting museum operations and specific projects as part of their corporate giving and community investment program.
• The Whiting-Turner Contracting CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic corporate partner providing support for museum projects and ongoing operations.
• VerizonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic corporate partner supporting specific or ongoing projects at the museum.
• Baltimore County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing support through Citizens of Baltimore County program. Sponsors Honoring Our Heroes Motor Muster event recognizing fire, police, EMS, and military personnel.
• Maryland 250 CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState commission coordinating Maryland's celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Partnered with museum for July 3, 2026 celebration event including patriotic activities and historical reenactments.
• Seagrave CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFire apparatus manufacturer sponsors the annual Honoring Our Heroes Motor Muster event. Museum sells Seagrave-branded merchandise including T-shirts.
• Maryland HumanitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner supporting cultural and educational programming at the museum.
• Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) - Chesapeake RegionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts annual Antique Car Show at the museum featuring classic vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, police and military vehicles.
• Home DepotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting museum projects and operations.
• Pathfinders for AutismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated noise-canceling headphones for visitors with sensory processing issues, supporting accessible museum experiences.
• Baltimore City Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner with historical connection to museum's mission of preserving firefighting heritage.
• Baltimore County Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner with historical connection to museum's mission of preserving firefighting heritage.
• Greater Baltimore History AllianceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReciprocal admission program allowing Family-level museum members free admission to 14 Baltimore area museums.
• Boy Scouts of America - Baltimore Area CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial merit badge counseling through MB Councilor registered with Baltimore Area Council. Programs include Collections, Fire Safety, Safety, Art, Signs/Signals/Codes, and Traffic Safety merit badges.

Scale indicators5 records

Market position

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrjWVYZQvX6wyqh2z8dIn4w
• Facebookfacebook.com/firemuseummd
• Instagraminstagram.com/firemuseummd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/firemuseummd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Fire Museum of Maryland