Our

 Values

Our Story, Inc. presents the Northern Nevada African American Firefighter Museum (NNAAFM). We are passionate about sharing the experiences of the unsung in Northern Nevada and we are honored to help tell the story of a small unsung fire department that did big things for the North Valleys Community! The Northern Nevada African American Firefighter Museum (NNAAFM) opened its door on April 22, 2022 and is located on Kennedy Drive in the Grandview Terrace area North of Reno in a small community known by some as Black Springs, and it has been a pleasure for us to reflect that goal while being one of the few African American Firefighter museums in the United States.
From 1950s to the 1980s the community of Black Springs, Nevada consisted of folks who created opportunities for themselves through hard work, tenacious appeals for equal access to public help and fighting for civil rights. Because of their perseverance then, the Black Springs community now has sewer services, electrical services, its own well, paved roads and for a time its own fire department, The Black Springs Volunteer Fire Department, which was housed in the building constructed by the folks In that community for ready emergency service, is now the building that the NNAAFM occupies today.
The museum exhibits honor the service of firefighters in our community, shares the story of William Lobster who is possibly the first African American Fire Chief in Nevada, tells the stories of the people who built this structure that served the North Valleys and celebrates the contributions of African Americans that help make our Northern Nevada community what it is today.
We are honored to have the huge support of Northern Nevada residents, Guest from other areas, Washoe County representatives, City of Reno representatives, Reno Firefighters, Truckee Meadows Firefighters, Firematic Collectors of Northern Nevada and the Reno Fire Antique and Classic Apparatus, Inc. We invite all to visit including schools, local businesses, families, history seekers, teachers, community leaders, non-profits and individuals just wanting to learn more. For more information access our contact form, email, phone number, and mailing address below.
Last but certainly not least, we would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to Washoe County and Washoe County Parks & Rec for helping to make this possible. Also THANK YOU to the hard working volunteers who have cleaned, painted, scraped, built and carried to make this building into a museum. And THANK YOU to the donors who have helped by providing funding and artifacts. Without all of you this museum would not be possible.