Curator Explains Story of a Chief’s Fire Helmet

Chief Joseph Pfeifer’s golf-colored fire helmet is displayed on a white surface.
Chief Joseph Pfeifer's fire helmet. Gift of the Pfeifer family in memory of FDNY's 343 heroes. (Photography by Matt Flynn)

Each of the 17 fire helmets in the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s care tell a unique story about the person who it belonged to and the experiences he had on Sept. 11, 2001. The fire helmets in the collection range from those worn by the probationary to the level of the chief.

Among them is a white, leather chief’s helmet donated by Battalion Chief Joseph Pfeifer. After witnessing hijacked flight 11 crash into the North Tower, Pfeifer responded with members of Engine 7 and Ladder 1. He established a command center in the North Tower and remained there until he had to run to safety as the tower collapsed. Pfeifer was able to escape that day. His brother, Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, who also responded with his company, Engine 33, did not.

Listen to Amy Weinstein, Director of Collections and Senior Oral Historian, discuss the story behind Chief Pfeifer's helmet. Weinstein also touches on why a donation of a fire helmet is among the most honored gifts at the Museum, and how this particular helmet tells stories of the fate of the Pfeifer brothers. (Audio)

By Jenny Pachucki, Content Strategist

Previous Post

Museum Honors Queens School for Sharing Positive Legacy of 9/11

Students from the Immaculate Conception School Aquinas Honor Society and Principal Dori Breen show the tribute mural given to them by the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

A blank canvas hanging seven stories below the World Trade Center became a shared space for children and adults from all over the world to convey messages of hope and paint inspiring images.

View Blog Post

Next Post

'The Stories They Tell': Conserving the Last Column

Assistant conservator Maureen Merrigan treats the Last Column while kneeling on a cherry picker in Foundation Hall.

To thousands of Ground Zero recovery workers, the Last Column represents a symbol of resilience after 9/11. Standing at 36-feet tall, the Last Column is a 58-ton beam that was part of the core structure of the South Tower.

View Blog Post