New York City Fire Museum

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Though the New York City Fire Museum was founded during the 1980s, the Fire Department of New York's motto adopted after September 11, 2001, "Never forget," could easily double as the museum's own. Every display—from the September 11th Memorial, to the sepia photographs of early-20th century fire companies, to the jaws of life exhibit—celebrates the experiences of dedicated FDNY firefighters over the past two centuries. The largest exhibition room holds historic pieces, including the horse-drawn department chief's buggy from 1892; several fire engines in all their shiny red glory, including the Gooseneck Engine of 1820, the Kerosene-Powered Engine of 1905, and the Type 75 American LaFrance Engine of 1921; Engine Company 203's beloved canine mascot, which was stuffed when it died in 1939; plus an extensive collection of memorabilia and equipment to sate history buffs, such as hoses, hydrants, uniforms, helmets, pictures, and hand-held tools. Ultimately, the museum isn't just a place to see artifacts, but an opportunity to learn more about firefighting's history and brave participants. — Sara Sargent

Housed in two adjoining rooms, this tribute to the heroes of 9/11 includes a WTC Memorial Statue donated by Ironworkers' Local 40; a black marble memorial with pictures of the firefighters lost in the attacks; a glass case filled with tools, including shovels and garden spades, used in the recovery effort; an interactive computer station where visitors can browse photographs of the fallen firemen, newspaper coverage of the attacks, and pictures of nationwide tributes to the FDNY; and a wall-size timeline chronicling that day's dramatic events.

Tours
The museum only offers advance-reservation tours with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 50 people. The tour features a fire safety and prevention presentation, a narrated history of the Fire Museum, and a guided trip through some of the exhibits. The cost is $3 per child and $5 per adult; call 212-691-1303, ext. 13 for more information and to make reservations.

Weddings
On the outskirts of Soho sits this two-floor museum filled with antique fire trucks and equipment. Couples can rent the 3,000-plus-square-foot third floor for the wedding and reception with access to the whole museum for eight hours (three hours are allotted for setup and cleanup).