Last admission into the museum is at 3:30 pm. No free admission on Tuesdays
Welcome to the Fire Museum! I’m Kimberly Crafton, the museum’s Executive Director. I’m pleased to be a part of such an amazing treasure here in Memphis. The Fire Museum of Memphis is truly one of the hottest places in town!
Before becoming the Executive Director, I had visited the museum many times. It is truly part of the culture here in Memphis. The history of Fire Services in Memphis is long and exciting. The men and women of Memphis Fire Services put their lives on the line for the safety of every citizen in Memphis every day. It is truly a heroic job. The museum is a 501c3 separate from Memphis Fire Services, however we work as a partner with them to provide fire education, prevention and a historical record of the service they provide to the city of Memphis.
I’m not originally from Memphis. I’m from Birmingham, Alabama. I’ve been in Memphis since 2001 and it has truly become home to me and my family. This city has so much to offer its citizens and tourists alike – and the Fire Museum of Memphis is one of those treasures. I am a marketing and development professional with over 25 years’ experience in working with nonprofit, educational institutions and other organizations. I plan on using that knowledge and taking the museum to new levels to enhance its mission.
I started my career as a newspaper journalist in Birmingham. I was the only female reporter who covered the fire and police departments. That experience gave me an appreciation for the work first responders do each day. I left the newspaper and went to work in my family business – Oversize Outfitters for many years. I then moved to New York and worked for a communication company that provided first responder communications for NYC.
After surviving 9/11, I moved to Memphis. Since coming to here, I have worked with a variety of nonprofits and educational institutions around the area. These included; Girl Scouts Heart of the South, Civil Rights Museum, Memphis Goodwill, Inc., Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, Perkins Restaurant Corporate Office, Southwest Tennessee Community College and Bornblum, Soloman, Schechter School.
My career has a heavy connection to the first responders in fire services and I’m so proud to be here at the Fire Museum of Memphis and to be able to give back to them and to the citizens they serve. My favorite quote is “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.” by Maya Angelo (at least that’s where I first heard it). So join me at the Fire Museum of Memphis and have one of those moments for yourself.
Sincerely,
Kimberly
