NYC Fire Museum Shuts Down After Reports of Building Shaking
Concerns for the building’s structural integrity put the museum on hiatus. So far, there is no date for a reopening.
| 20 May 2024 | 02:52
The museum has shut its doors for now after (
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The turnout coat of FDNY Chaplain Father Mychal Judge, who became victim #1 on 9/11, is among the artifacts on display in the Fire Museum on Spring St. Photo: Keith J. Kelly
FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens at the annual wreath laying on Sept. 11, 2023 commerating the 343 firefighters who died on 9/11. Photo: Keith J. Kelly
The New York City Fire Museum closed indefinitely on May 11 after an emergency evacuation due to reports of the building shaking. The museum, located in Hudson Square on Spring Street, displayed an update on its website associating the closing with nearby crane operations that led to concerns about the structural integrity of the building.
David Maggiotto of the NYC Department of Buildings told Straus News that employees heard a bang on Saturday morning and felt the building shake, prompting the evacuation. More reports followed that one of that cranes on Spring Street hit the museum, causing vibrating floors and overall shaking. It was unclear, however, if these occurrences are indicative of structural oversights in the building itself. The DOB insists no damage or structural issues have been found thus far.
The DOB said conducted an inspection after the initial reports of shaking, filed through a 311 call, but found no evidence that the crane operations had any impact on the building’s structure. The DOB conducted a subsequent inspection on May 15 but couldn’t access the museum due to its closure and reported that the crane was no longer there. Officials from the department did, however, find a crack in the exterior facade of the building, prompting further inspection in the near future.
The museum has not responded to our request for updates by presstime but posted on their website that the safety of visitors and staff is their utmost priority. The closure is thus indefinite until the museum receives clearance to safely reopen. A timeline for reopening has not yet been disclosed.
Hopefully, the Fire Museum won’t follow in the footsteps of the NYC Police Museum, which closed in the wake of 2012 Hurricane Sandy and has yet to reopen over a decade later.