Feuerwehrmuseum Vienna: Exploring Three Centuries of Firefighting History and Emergency Services Exhibits

The Vienna Fire Brigade Museum showcases over three centuries of the city's professional fire service history. Visitors can explore historical uniforms, equipment, and documents, tracing the evolution from medieval firefighters to modern-day emergency responders.

The Vienna Fire Brigade Museum, located in the Merkleinsches Haus at Am Hof 7, presents a comprehensive history of the professional fire brigade of the City of Vienna across eight exhibition rooms. The collection spans over 300 years, detailing the progression from early firefighting methods and equipment used by medieval fire wardens to the sophisticated protective gear and high-tech equipment employed by today's emergency personnel. The museum also highlights significant and tragic events in the history of the Viennese fire service, such as the infamous fires at the Ringtheater, the Rotunde, and the Palace of Justice. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum features a special exhibition titled "Die Wiener Freiwilligen Feuerwehren" (The Vienna Volunteer Fire Brigades), which delves into the history, members, and impact of approximately 50 volunteer fire brigades that existed in Vienna's past, many of which were dissolved in the first half of the 20th century. This exhibition utilizes display boards, original documents, badges, objects related to serious incidents, and historical photographs, including those showing women serving in volunteer fire brigades during World War I. Furthermore, a separate exhibition of historical vehicles is housed at the main fire station in Floridsdorf, featuring horse-drawn wagons, the first motorized fire engine from 1903, and vehicles up to the 1970s. Guided tours are available for groups by appointment, and the entire museum is accessible.

Entry to the museum is free. Guided tours for groups of 10 to 20 people can be booked by telephone. The entire museum is accessible.