So Minnesota: Honoring heroes, The Minnesota Firefighters Museum

A Minneapolis museum honors all the heroes who fight fires.

The Minnesota Firefighters Museum in Minneapolis is dedicated to the education and historic preservation of the Minnesota fire service.

“I always thought you’re going to prevent far more tragedy than you ever will saving it,” Museum curator Nyle Zikmund said. “I want to use those stories and what we have here to keep people safe.”

More than two decades ago, former Minneapolis Fire Captain Bill Daniels and his wife Bonnie left a $1 million trust to start the museum and hall.

“They wanted to have their legacy be a museum that preserved Minnesota firefighter history and then a hall for the retirees and firefighters to come and gather,” Zikmund said.

Every year, thousands of visitors get to see historic fire equipment from different departments around the state, while learning how firefighting has changed o...