Summary: Nearly 26 years ago, the first NYC EMS Museum opened on the grounds of Fort Totten in Bayside, Queens. In 2013, it was closed to make way for some much needed construction. The NYC EMS Museum reopened in May 2018 to display how the FDNY’s EMS grew from humble beginnings as the nation’s very first municipal ambulance service to the busiest provider of pre-hospital emergencies—responding to more than 1.4 million calls annually. Chief James “JP” Martin, who retired in 2010, spent years researching the history of the ambulance service while Captain Jack Quigley managed the construction of the 400-square-foot museum. The museum is curated with antique uniforms, equipment, and highlights those who have dedicated their lives in keeping New Yorkers safe. Chief of Staff Elizabeth Cascio hosts.
