About the Museum
The Randall R. Tuten Orlando Fire Museum, formerly Station 3, reopened in 2002 after the Orlando Fire Department assumed ownership from the Historical Society of Central Florida.
The two-story, red brick firehouse was initially located on Orlando Avenue, near Dade Street, in College Park from 1926 – 1978.
In 1972, the new Station 3 was built in College Park. The Orlando Science Center moved the old station to Loch Haven Park. The old station had fallen into disrepair and faced an uncertain future. The Science Center, in cooperation with the Central Florida Fire Chief’s Association, restored the building’s exterior. The interior renovation that followed transformed the old station into a fire museum.
In 1988, the Historical Society installed a new roof, fire stairs on the north side of the building, and restored the bathrooms. The station reopened two years later with a celebration and tours about the history of the Orlando Fire Department.
The Orlando Fire Department took over the museum’s lease in 2002 and once again, the fire museum went through extensive renovations.
In 2016, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer renamed the museum in honor of the late Retired Deputy Fire Chief, Randall R. Tuten. Randall followed in his father's, G.F. Tuten, footsteps and became a second generation Deputy Fire Chief for the Orlando Fire Department. Mr. Tuten proudly served the Orlando Fire Department from 1974 - 2002 and served as head of operations at the Orlando Fire Museum from 2004 - 2016. Randall's son, Nick Tuten, is carrying on the family tradition and is currently a third generation firefighter with the Orlando Fire Department.
