on december 13, 1997, the african american firefighter museum opened. firefighter/lead paramedic michelle banks served as the first president. on opening day, fire chief bamattre spoke to the old stentorians and issued a formal apology for enduring a terrible time during the integration of the lafd during the mid 1950s. station 30, along with station 14, integrated in 1956 and was later closed in 1980. it is now home to the african american firefighter museum and is dedicated to collecting, conserving and sharing the shared history and heritage of african american firefighters. the history of african american firefighters in los angeles spans more than 100 years and provides a unique glimpse into the history of firefighting, race relations and segregation in the city. it was one of two segregated fire stations where black firefighters worked in los angeles between 1924 and 1955. it was built in 1913 and served the central avenue community of the city. it is now beautifully restored and has the original apparatus floor tiles, poles and kitchen out-building. in 1985 old fire station 30 was declared a los angeles historic-cultural monument - #289 on the historic register - and is the recipient of the los angeles conservancy's 1999 preservation award. it is opened to the public as a museum. in 2009 it was added to the national register of historic places along with no. 14. old fire station 30 exhibits display a wide array of firefighting gear including vintage engines (an 1890 hose wagon and a 1940 pirsch ladder truck), uniforms from la county and la city firefighters, new york badges and uniforms, helmets of all kinds, displays of african american women firefighters, photographs, and other paraphernalia and firefighting artifacts.