The Fire Museum Revolution: Engaging Visitors through an Interactive Experience

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The Fire Museum Revolution: Engaging Visitors through an Interactive Experience
Jamie Quinn, FASNY Museum of Firefighting Tom McDonald, Fire Museum Network Lisa Braxton, National Fire Protection Association

Traditionally, fire museums in the U.S. and Canada have paid tribute to the past, often to an audience of primarily firefighters. However, in recent years, fire museums have undergone a dramatic transformation, moving from static presentations of historic facts to a more dynamic, family-focused, hands-on approach. Participants will learn of the motivating factors behind the fire museum revolution, how museums have made this transformation, and how upgrades and modernization have helped them maintain or reestablish their relevance in their communities.

Presented by:

Jamie Quinn, FASNY Museum of Firefighting
Jamie Smith Quinn is the Executive Director of the FASNY Museum of Firefighting and is a museum administrator with over 17 years of experience in strategic planning, development, public relations and marketing, finance, and general management. She is a senior level professional with specialized expertise in developing earned income programs, public programming, and institutional advancement. Her prior work experience includes The Shaker Museum & Library and Boston University. Television appearances include CBS's Sunday Morning, PBS's Our Town, and numerous appearances on local television stations. She served on the governor's fire prevention task force and was also honored in 2015 by the Museum Association of the State of New York with an Individual Achievement Award for her outstanding work in the museum field. She is a contributor to both The Volunteer Firefighter Magazine and the quarterly publication Enjine, Enjine.

Tom McDonald, Fire Museum Network
As a retired captain with the Houston Fire Department, Tom McDonald is a board member and Past President of the Fire Museum Network, a nonprofit entity that provides a means for networking among fire museums and promotes the interests of those dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the artifacts, history, and traditions of the fire service. For 6 years, he directed operations and is currently President at the Houston Fire Museum, which was completely renovated and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. He earned his BS in Economics from Houston Baptist University.

Lisa Braxton, National Fire Protection Association
Lisa Braxton is Associate Project Manager in the Public Education Division of NFPA. She is staff liaison to the Educational Messages Advisory Committee, the education member section of NFPA, and the Urban Fire and Life Safety Task Force. She is the author of an article featured in the September/October 2015 issue of NFPA Journal, "Hands-on History: Why Fire Museums are Adopting an Interactive, Learn-By-Doing Approach to Engage Visitors in the Rich History of Fire and Firefighting." As a former newspaper reporter and television journalist, Lisa has won awards in journalism and literary writing. She earned her MS in Journalism at Northwestern University.