SAN ANTONIO FIRE MUSEUM SOCIETY INC

THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE MUSEUM, LOCATED BEHIND THE ALAMO, WHICH IS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, IS IDEALLY LOCATED TO SHOWCASE THE RICH HISTORY OF FIREFIGHTING IN SAN ANTONIO. OVER 7500 VISITORS WERE ENTERTAINED IN THE ORIGINAL 1939 STRUCTURE WHICH WAS THE CENTRAL FIRE HEADQUARTERS UNTIL 2012. THE MUSEUM OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC IN 2013. DURING OUR HOURS OF OPERATION (TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY, 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.), OUR VOLUNTEER STAFF GREETED VISITORS, TELLING THEM THE HISTORY OF FIREFIGHTING IN SAN ANTONIO AND SHARING FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCES OF THEIR FIREFIGHTING EXPERIENCES. OUR DOCENTS, WHO ARE MOSTLY RETIRED SAN ANTONIO FIREFIGHTERS, ARE FREQUENTLY MENTIONED IN VISITORS' ONLINE POSTS AS THE HIGH POINT OF THEIR VISIT. THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE CONDUCTED MANY FIRE SAFETY PRESENTATIONS TO SCHEDULED GROUPS. OUR COLLECTIONS GROUP RECEIVED NUMEROUS DONATIONS WHICH WERE CATALOGUED AND EITHER STORED, OR USED IN ENHANCING OUR DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS. OUR ANTIQUE FIRE TRUCKS PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL PARADES IN SAN ANTONIO AND SURROUNDING AREAS. VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR TOTALED OVER 12,400. WE REMAIN IN A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION THANKS TO THE CONTINUED GENEROSITY OF OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS. WE ENJOYED VERY SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENTS DURING THE YEAR. SIGNIFICANT STRIDES WERE MADE DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR TO EXPAND OUR DISPLAYS AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS. THE MUSEUM CURRENTLY OCCUPIES ONLY ONE OF THREE FLOORS IN THE HISTORICAL CENTRAL FIRE HEADQUARTERS. OUR FUTURE PLANS INCLUDE EXPANDING OUR DISPLAY AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS INTO THE SECOND FLOOR AND UTILIZING THE BASEMENT FOR OFFICE SPACE AND LONG-TERM STORAGE. THIS WILL REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT TO RENOVATE THE MUSEUM SINCE WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO ELEVATOR TO SERVICE THE THREE FLOORS. WE ENGAGED AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM, ALONG WITH AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO CREATE A PLAN, WITH APPROXIMATE COSTS, FOR THE RENOVATION. IN THE FALL OF 2024 WE LAUNCHED A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS RENOVATION.