This past weekend, the Daily Herald released their Readers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for 2026. We are excited to share that the Aurora Regional Fire Museum was voted the Best Suburban Museum.

Located in Aurora’s 1894 Central Fire Station, the museum features two floors of professional exhibits designed for visitors of all ages and explores the history of firefighting on a local, regional, and national level. The Fire Museum’s exhibits combine a mix of history focused exhibits and an award-winning Children’s Discovery Room. The Children’s Discovery Room features Safety at Play: A Firefighter’s Adventure, an exhibit filled with multiple interactives from a child-sized fire station and fire engine. A visit to downtown Aurora is not complete without a stop at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Whether you are interested in history or have a family with children of all ages, the exhibits are welcoming to all.

This recognition is another testament of the impact the Aurora Regional Fire Museum is having in the region. In the last year, the Fire Museum was named the 2026 Small Institution of the Year and received an Award of Superior Achievement (Exhibits) from the Illinois Association of Museums, was awarded the Corporate Responsibility Award by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, and their Executive Director received the Small Museum Association Award.

“It is heartening to see so many families and children enjoying the museum’s exhibits and programs and to see the impact the museum is having in our local community and the region,” shares Board President Karen Yaggie. “A museum’s impact is not measured based on its size; small museums can have a major impact in their community. We truly are humbled by this recognition.”