Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum

Sam & Don Pulling 1871 Amoskeag Pumper

On April 6, 1967 a groundbreaking ceremony was held at 2716 N.E. 50th St., in Oklahoma City, where the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum is still located today. The building was completed in 1969 and houses the Museum and the offices of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association (OSFA), Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association (OCFA) and the Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association (ORFA).

The Museum contains a remarkable collection of antique fire apparatus and equipment dating back to the mid-1700s, including the first fire station built in, what was then, Oklahoma Territory in 1869. Other exhibits include the world's largest fire department patch collection and a one-of-a-kind mural, The Last Alarm. The Museum is the new home to several artifacts from the Ben Franklin Collection, a group of items representing the birth of the oldest fire department in the United States.

The Museum is one of the most outstanding facilities in the nation devoted to the preservation and display of antique fire fighting equipment and apparatus.  Owned and operated by the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association, it is financed by membership dues.

Museum Curator
John Knupple was the first curator of the Firefighters Museum, serving from June 1, 1970 to Dec. 31, 1971.

In January 1972, the mantle moved to Sam Oruch who, at that time, was an active firefighter for the Oklahoma City Fire Department. While on duty, Sam's District Chief would pick him up and drive him to the Museum where he would give visitors a tour. Sam retired from OCFD in 1978 and became the full-time Museum caretaker. He gave Museum tours for more than 33 years and is the last person to have held the title of Curator.

In 2004, Jim Sanders became the Museum Director. Jim retired from the Bethany Fire Department. Jim worked to build and improve the museum's collection and outreach.

Currently, retired Nichols Hills firefighter, Mike "Rookie" Billingsley and retired Midwest City Captain Mike Brown are working together to continue to update and improve the Firefighter's Museum - and they still give tours in the tradition Sam Oruch began.