HISTORY OF CENTRAL AVENUE                                                      

The African American Fire Fighter Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, conserving and sharing the heritage of African American firefighters.

The Museum is housed at old Fire Station 30. This station, which was one of two segregated fire stations in Los Angeles, between 1924 and 1955,  was established in 1913, to serve the Central Ave community.

This beautifully restored facility has the original apparatus floor tiles, poles and kitchen out-building, dating back to 1913, when the facility opened as a fire station.  The Museum has been designated as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument 289, and is the recipient of the Los Angeles Conservancy's 1999 preservation Award.

The one hundred-year history of African American firefighters in Los Angeles's fire service provides a glimpse of life from a unique perspective.

The museum exhibit displays a wide array of firefighting paraphernalia. We have vintage engines, including a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck and a 1890 hose wagon, uniforms from New York, LA County and LA City firefighters, badges, helmets, displays of African American Women firefighters, photographs, and other authentic firefighting artifacts from the fire service dating back to 1924.

In addition, we engage our visitors in an examination of human relations through the stories of the "Old Stentorians". The experiences of the "Old Stentorians", men who worked during the periods of segregation and desegregation, offer an opportunity to explore and learn from the actions that allowed them to excel despite adversity.         

African American Fire Fighter Museum board of director member and Los Angeles County Chief Deputy Daryl Osby, speaking at Universal Studio - amongst the many dignitaries. Photographer unknown - From the archives of Los Angeles County Fire Department's Photography Unit

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