The Hanover Fire Department Museum used to be stationed at the Wirt Park Station (Caty-corner to Wirt Park) but moved to it's new location recently. If you think it's going to be all about fire departments and engines, it isn't!. Well, okay, most of it is. But the museum also has some historical pieces of Hanover dating back to the Civil War and possibly before (okay, I'm really bad with history, give me a break). Ask the staff about the Mary Ann Furnaces and the imprint of the name George Ross on the side of the furnace piece they have - founder of the Mary Ann Furnaces in Hanover, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and uncle by marriage to Betsy Ross.
I think the most interesting piece of apparatus they have is a steam engine... or maybe the working Gamewell board... or the hand pumper that was bought in 1856 from Maryland that was at the laying of the first stone of the Washington Monument. Either way, make sure you plan for at least an hour because one of the staff will give you a tour and lots of interesting information. I know I'm going back b/c I'm sure this place has more to offer than I even got the first time around.
They are open every Tuesday 9-3 and every 1st & 3rd Saturday. So head on over and you might even be allowed to pull the fire alarm.
For more information, check out the section on the borough's website.
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