Historic Attractions Museum Announces New 12,000-Square-Foot Antique Fire Truck Museum Opening for the 2027 Season
ROSCOE, IL — Historic Attractions Museum is proud to announce an exciting expansion coming for the 2027 season with the opening of a brand-new 12,000-square-foot Antique Fire Truck Museum, dedicated to preserving the history, bravery, and legacy of America’s firefighters.
Located in a separate building adjacent to the museum’s main campus, the new addition will increase Historic Attractions Museum’s footprint from 86,000 square feet to an impressive 98,000 square feet, making one of the Midwest’s largest collections of historical exhibits even larger.
The Antique Fire Truck Museum will feature antique fire trucks, various apparatuses, and firefighter memorabilia, showcasing more than a century of firefighting history. Most of the trucks and apparatuses were generously donated by the former Northern Illinois Fire Truck Museum after it closed following the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these re
markable vehicles is an exceptionally significant fire engine that was used during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, one of the most devastating fires in American history. The remaining trucks are on loan from private collectors who share a passion for preserving firefighting history.
In addition to the antique apparatus, guests will experience a moving collection of firefighter memorabilia and a dedicated 9/11 Memorial, honoring the courageous firefighters and first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The exhibit is designed not only to educate visitors about the evolution of firefighting but also to recognize the courage, dedication, and selflessness of firefighters throughout history.