Memphis Museum Targets Flaming Youth
The just-opened Fire Museum in Memphis, TN, has been consciously designed to appeal to young people. In the words of its developers, it "makes fire prevention 'cool'."
In fulfilling that mandate, the museum's exhibits include a truck cab that lets visitors "drive" a fire engine - complete with blaring radio, sirens, and flashing lights - and a pint-sized mechanical snorkel basket that lifts kids into the air and encourages them to douse a video-projected "skyscraper fire" with a laser hose.
The showcase exhibit of the new museum is the "Fire Room," which employs state-of-the-art visuals, sounds, and special effects that enable visitors to "feel the heat" of a real-life fire complete with high temperatures, smoke, and subsonic woofers that pound out crackling flames, crashing walls, and explosions.
The Fire Museum is downtown, in historic Fire Engine House No. 1. We expect that it will reduce Memphis childhood fire casualties, or increase Memphis childhood traumatic nightmares, or possibly both.
[10/11/1998]- Address:
- 118 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN
- Directions:
- Adams Ave and N 2nd St.,
- Hours:
- Summer M-Sa 9-6, Su 1-6; Other M-Sa 9-$:30. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 901-320-5650
- Admission:
- Adults $10, 3-18 $8