The mission of Liberty Engine Co. No. 1/Comstock Firemen’s Museum is to preserve, display and interpret firefighting apparatus and artifacts, and present the rich history and heritage of firefighting in Storey County with primary emphasis on Virginia City and Gold Hill, and the impact on life and culture in those communities and the state.
Hours: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., daily
Season: May-October
November-December: Open on weekends, as weather and attendant availability permits
Off-Season: Closed for annual maintenance
Off-Season Tours: During the times the museum is closed, it may be possible to accommodate groups of 10-20 visitors for a guided tour. Please make your plans well in advance by calling: (775) 813-6911
Some Fire Apparatus On Display
1839 Christian Hight four-wheel hand-drawn hose carriage (Nevada’s oldest and longest serving fire apparatus)
1856 Lysander Button & Co. hand-drawn hand-pumped fire engine ✩
ca. 1870 two-wheel hand-drawn hose cart
ca. 1874 two-wheel hand-drawn hose cart
1877 Kimball & Co. four-wheel horse-drawn hose carriage
1879 Button & Son four-wheel hand-drawn hose carriage ✩
ca. 1879 Clapp & Jones steam powered fire engine ✩
ca. 1880 Rumsey & Co. hand-drawn hand-pumped fire engine ✩
ca. 1910 industrial fire brigade hose cart
(The ✩ symbol denotes our movie stars)
Museum Store
The Fire Museum gift shop offers a unique selection of fire-related gifts, souvenirs and books for the entire family at reasonable prices including “Jump her Lively, Boys! An Introduction to the Fire Department History of the Comstock Lode.” This is a 24-page illustrated excerpt from the 1984 “Red Shirts and Leather Helmets,” by former Virginia City Fire Chief Steve Frady.
Pictures below are provided by contributors or supporters of this website. If you are interested in sharing your pictures of Nevada, please drop us a note.
Courtesy T. Turner – Desert flowers in bloom