Brian Failing, executive director of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, shares information at the Rotary Club of Aurora meeting Monday held at the Museum. Started by the Aurora Fire Department in 1968, the Museum was created to preserve the Department’s history and educate visitors about fire safety and prevention. The Museum moved to its current location, the former Central Station, at 53 N. Broadway, in 1990 and provides educational programs for all ages and occasions. Failing, executive director since March 2016 said the operating hours have increased and attendance in 2018 was up by more than 22% with 11,675 visitors. He added they doubled the hours they are open and raised more funds this year than the last two years combined. A new exhibit, “Staying Safe: From Firehouse to Your House” recently opened and the Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Failing said they recently found and added a ventriloquist dummy named Smoky Burns created in 1937 to their display. The Museum will be a part of Aurora Downtown’s First Fridays Aurora Cocoa Crawl December 6. Jason Crane/The Voice
