The Travel Town Exhibit

A t the turn of the 20th Century, firefighters relied on axes, ladders, water pumpers powered by steam, and randomly placed, occasionally working fire hydrants. Any equipment needed at a fire was pulled there in carts by hand or loaded on wagons and pulled by horses.

"Motorization" in the early part of the 20th Century marked a significant advancement in the ability to reach fires quickly. Early motorized equipment was very specialized, each truck designed for a specific purpose, whether that was pumping water carrying ladders, or carrying hose. In some case, motorization simply meant replacing the horses with a tractor.

Quickly, however, builders of firefighting apparatus began to combine many functions within one truck. Rather than having separate trucks for carrying hose and ladders, and different pumpers for chemicals and water, fire engines became multipurpose vehicles, pumping water and chemicals, and carrying a wide variety of ancillary equipment, such as axes, ladders, hose, and hose nozzles.

Travel Town Is Changing

B ut we need your help! Travel Town Associates is an organization devoted to the restoration and revitalization of Travel Town's artifacts. We need friends and advisors, people who are willing to help in any of a countless number of ways. For example:

• Advice City staff about capital improvements, how to rearrange the rail exhibits, which locomotives or cars would be best candidates for restoration, and the like:
• Lead tours on weekends or to school class on weekday mornings;
• Participate in restoration projects;
• Assist with fund raising activities;
• Promote Travel Town in the community.

Interested? Please inquire at the Travel Town Office. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Future LAFD Museum

T he Los Angeles Fire Department has plans to develop a museum memorializing the history and development of the Department. The LAFD Museum will house an important collection of firefighting apparatus, including and original steam powered fire engine and the famous Gorter Water Tower. In addition, the Travel Town collection of firefighting apparatus will be incorporated into the museum. Several years from realization, the museum will be housed in the current Station #27 on Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood. For further information about the LAFD Museum, contact: Los Angeles Fire Department Public Service Unit (213) 485-6054.