What’s better than FREE? Not much! There are plenty of things to do in Marietta GA and it’s one of the most popular suburbs of Atlanta to visit, with events happening weekly. However, if you’re looking for things to do in Marietta for free – the Marietta Fire Museum is open year round. Kids love it and it’s the perfect half-day family outing that’s right off of the historic Marietta Square.
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The Fire Museum: One Of The Best Free Things To Do In Marietta
Located just two blocks off of the historic Marietta Square (on Haynes Street), the Marietta Fire Museum is open to the public and showcases unique memorabilia. The artifacts tell the history of the Marietta fire department, their work and a look back in time that even kids can appreciate.
The Fire Museum is connected to an active Marietta Fire station. Self-guided tours are available during operating hours or you can call ahead to schedule a group tour (for 10 or more people).
What To See At The Fire Museum
Enjoy tools, fleet vehicles, tools and even antique toy firetrucks at the museum. The displays date back to 1854 and offer a great visual representation of the heroes hard work.
Our youngest, at three-years-old, really enjoys everything that the museum as to offer. You can easily spend about 1-2 hours in the museum. While there’s plenty of history to read about that coordinates with each display, it’s still a lot of fun for the kids. I love how they connected the history of the city, and the monumental fires, with each artifact.
They do not throw birthday parties. However, we planned a visit around my son’s birthday. It’s still a very special activity, especially at the toddler age. The firetrucks make for awesome photo backdrops and it’s a memorable experience.
A Hands-On Educational Experience
The Marietta Fire Museum is a great educational destination. If you call ahead, and schedule a guided tour, you’ll get more of a personable experience. The firemen, who actively work at the station, are available to answer any questions. They also offer group school field trip tours.
We happened to pop in during a field trip and got to ask questions, see the fleet vehicles that are currently in service and watch a demonstration of how the firemen put their gear on. The kids love it!
Marietta Fire Museum Exhibits
- 1879 Silsby Steamer
- 1921 American LaFrance Pumper
- 1929 Seagrave Pumper
- 1949 Pirsch Ladder Truck
- 1952 Chevrolet Panel Truck
- Antique fire helmets and helmets from around the world
- Antique firefighting apparatus (see below)
- Antique firefighting equipment, hoses, nozzles, bells, etc.
- More Interesting firefighting displays
Admission Information
- Admission is Free, while donates are accepted and appreciated.
- T-shirts, mugs and other souvenir items are available.
While this experience is one of the fun and free things to do in Marietta GA, I’d love to see it grow! Hopefully, with the help of donations, families can keep coming back to see more new hands-on offerings.
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