Indianapolis Fire Fighters Museum, Indianapolis, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

The Indianapolis Fire Fighters Museum stands at 746 Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana, and keeps alive the story of the city's fire service. Indianapolis had a fire company within a few years of its founding, and the museum and the memorial plaza beside it remind passers-by how firefighting grew from a volunteer effort into a paid profession.

The story behind it

Indianapolis was laid out in 1821, and its first fire company followed in 1826. It was a volunteer company, and for more than thirty years the town's fires were fought by volunteers, with little real control from the city council.

That changed in 1859, when the city set up a paid fire force and took fire protection under its own command. From then on, firefighting in Indianapolis was a paid profession. The museum and the memorial plaza next to it honor that long history, from the first volunteers to the firefighters who serve today.

What to look for

• The memorial plaza beside the museum is a quiet place to pause and think about the people who have served the city's fire service.
• The building itself is worth a look from the street, so take a moment to study its exterior before you go on.
• Massachusetts Avenue cuts across the city grid on a diagonal, one of the avenues that give central Indianapolis its distinctive street plan.
• The blocks around the museum mix older brick buildings with small shops, theaters and restaurants, so look up as you walk.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 15 minutes to see the exterior and the memorial plaza, and longer if you plan to go inside. Check current opening hours and visiting arrangements before you set out.
• Daylight is best for photographs of the building and the plaza, while evenings bring more life to the street.
• The museum sits on Massachusetts Avenue, a lively street of independent shops, eateries and theaters, so it combines easily with a longer stroll through the area.
• Wear comfortable shoes, since the best way to take in this part of downtown is on foot.

See it on a quest

Try Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis if you want to explore this very street with a purpose. You reach the museum on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Oz Escape in Indianapolis gives you a playful, Oz-themed way to see the same part of downtown. You walk from place to place, hear about each one as you get there, and solve a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Oz Escape: A Wicked Glitch in Indianapolis is a second Oz-themed route for anyone who wants another look at the streets around the museum. It works the same way, with the app telling you about each stop and a puzzle to solve on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.