Houston Fire Museum: Historic Station 7 Guide With Kids

At a glance

• Where: 2403 Milam Street, Midtown Houston, TX 77006
• Hours: Typically Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed federal holidays. Check houstonfiremuseum.org before you go.
• Cost: Adults $10; seniors, students, military, first responders, visitors with disabilities $7; children ages 3–12 $5; under 2 free; members free. Guided tours $10 per person (advance booking required, $25 deposit).
• Parking: No on-site parking. Metered street parking on Milam Street; self-pay lot at 2587 Milam. Download the ParkHouston app.
• Time needed: Typically 45–90 minutes for a self-paced visit; add 30 minutes for a guided tour with young children.

The Houston Fire Museum in Midtown holds a piece of steel from the World Trade Center. It sits inside Fire Station No. 7, a historic firehouse built in 1899 that recently completed a $5.7 million restoration. The museum is at 2403 Milam Street, open Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is $10 for adults.

What is the Houston Fire Museum?

The Houston Fire Museum is a nonprofit history museum and memorial dedicated to the Houston Fire Department, operating inside one of the city's oldest surviving firehouses. The station at 2403 Milam was built in 1899, saw active use for nearly seven decades, and was converted to a museum in 1982. The $5.7 million restoration brought the building back to its original design — exposed brick, arched bay doors, hose tower — while adding climate control, updated exhibits and improved accessibility.

The collection spans more than 120 years of Houston fire history, from horse-drawn steam engines to modern apparatus, with an emphasis on the people who ran them.

What's inside

The fire apparatus floor

The main hall holds antique fire apparatus arranged chronologically. At one end is an 1800s horse-drawn steam pumper. The progression moves through early 20th-century motorized engines to mid-century ladder trucks, each placarded with its service record and crew history. Several pieces are original Houston Fire Department equipment, not replicas.

The exhibit panels alongside the engines go deeper than most visitors expect — squad photos, newspaper accounts of major fires, names of firefighters killed in the line of duty. The building's original tile floors and brick walls survived the restoration intact.

The 9/11 Memorial

The museum holds a section of steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center. It is displayed in a dedicated alcove alongside FDNY memorial materials and a panel listing the 343 firefighters who died on September 11, 2001. The exhibit is spare and quiet. If you are bringing school-age children, plan a few minutes here — staff members are available to explain the memorial and answer questions at a kid-appropriate level.

Junior Firefighter Station

For younger visitors, the Junior Firefighter Station is a hands-on area where children can try on gear, climb into a fire truck cab and slide down a fire pole. It is the most popular feature for families with kids under ten. The section is staffed during regular museum hours and doubles as the starting point for children's guided tours.

Guided tours and kids' programs

Guided tours run Tuesday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tours last 60–90 minutes, cover the full collection and include a section on the history of firefighting in Houston. The cost is $10 per person, advance booking is required, and there is a $25 deposit at booking. Group size tops out at 30 people.

The museum also offers private birthday parties on-site Tuesday through Saturday. Private events book through the museum's events team at bookings@houstonfiremuseum.org.

School groups can arrange weekday field trips. Check houstonfiremuseum.org for the current school program schedule, since session availability shifts by semester.

How long to plan for

A self-paced visit takes most people 45–90 minutes. Visitors who linger over the apparatus floor and read the panels typically spend closer to 90 minutes. Add 30 minutes if you're doing a guided tour with young children, who will want extra time at the fire pole.

Weekday mornings are the quietest window. Saturday afternoons draw the most families, which means shorter adult browsing time and more competition for the Junior Firefighter Station.

Getting there and parking

The museum is at 2403 Milam Street in Midtown Houston, about a mile south of downtown. There is no on-site parking lot. Your options:

• Metered street parking on Milam Street and adjacent blocks. Meters are enforced daily; pay with the ParkHouston app or at the kiosk.
• Self-pay surface lot at 2587 Milam, about a 3-minute walk south.
• Rideshare drop-off at 2403 Milam Street is the easiest option on busy days.

For more downtown Houston parking tips, see our guide.

Lunch nearby in Midtown

See our full Midtown restaurant guide for dinner options. For a post-museum lunch within walking distance, these three have been consistently open:

• Pho Saigon (2808 Milam, about a 5-minute walk south): A no-frills Vietnamese spot with lunch pho, bun bo hue and banh mi. One of Midtown's most reliable weekday lunch stops.
• Tacos A Go Go, Midtown (3704 Main): A Houston original with breakfast tacos served all day and a rotating taco board. Cash-friendly, quick and kid-approved.
• The Breakfast Klub (3711 Travis, a 10-minute walk): Famous for wings and waffles, this long-running Midtown institution draws some of the city's longest Saturday morning lines. Arrive before 9 a.m. or plan on a wait. Worth it if you're not in a hurry.

If you'd rather brunch before the museum, our best brunch in Houston guide covers the Midtown options in more depth.

Nearby attractions

The museum pairs well with a half-day in Midtown or a full day looping through several nearby neighborhoods.

• [Hermann Park](/things-to-do/hermann-park-visitor-guide): A 10-minute drive south, with the Houston Zoo, Japanese Garden and the McGovern Centennial Gardens all on the same grounds.
• [Sam Houston Park](/things-to-do/sam-houston-park-guide): A 10-minute drive north in downtown. The city's oldest park has 19th-century historic structures on self-guided and docent-led tours — a natural companion to a fire museum visit.
• [Buffalo Bayou Park](/things-to-do/buffalo-bayou-park-visitor-guide): A mile north, with hike-and-bike trails along the bayou, public art and the Buffalo Bayou Cistern tours.
• [Houston Museums Guide](/things-to-do/houston-museums-guide): If the Fire Museum sparks a broader Museum District day, our full guide has hours and admission for every major museum.
• [Discovery Green](/things-to-do/discovery-green-guide): A mile and a half northeast in downtown, good for a picnic after the museum loop.

Save this: planning checklist

• Check hours at houstonfiremuseum.org the morning you go — the museum is closed on federal holidays.
• Guided tours require advance booking and a $25 deposit; reserve at least a few days ahead for weekend slots.
• Bring a card or cash: the gift shop and admissions desk accept both.
• Download the ParkHouston app before you leave; it's the fastest way to pay metered parking.
• Kids under 10 should wear shoes they can move in — the Junior Firefighter Station involves climbing.
• Budget extra time on Saturdays; the parking blocks around 2403 Milam fill early.
• Pair the visit with The Breakfast Klub only if you arrive before it; the wait on Saturday mornings is real.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Houston Fire Museum worth visiting with kids?

Yes. The Junior Firefighter Station lets children try on gear, climb into a fire truck cab and slide down a fire pole. Guided tours are available Tuesday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for $10 per person.

What are the Houston Fire Museum's hours?

The Houston Fire Museum is typically open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It closes on federal holidays. Check houstonfiremuseum.org before you go, as hours can change.

How much does it cost to visit the Houston Fire Museum?

Adult admission is $10. Seniors, students, military, first responders and visitors with disabilities pay $7. Children ages 3–12 are $5, and children under 2 are free. Museum members enter free. Guided tours cost $10 per person with a $25 advance deposit.

Is there parking at the Houston Fire Museum?

There is no on-site parking lot. Metered street parking is available on Milam Street, paid via the ParkHouston app or kiosk. A self-pay surface lot at 2587 Milam is a 3-minute walk from the entrance. Rideshare drop-off at 2403 Milam is the easiest option on busy days.

When did the Houston Fire Museum reopen?

The Houston Fire Museum at Fire Station No. 7 reopened in October 2024 after a $5.7 million restoration that restored the 1899 building's original brick and arched facade while adding climate control, updated exhibits and improved accessibility.

Can you book a birthday party at the Houston Fire Museum?

Yes. The museum offers private birthday party bookings Tuesday through Saturday. Contact the events team at bookings@houstonfiremuseum.org to check availability and pricing.