Engine Company 16-Truck Company 3
Engine Company 16-Truck Company 3 is a fire station built in 1932 in downtown Washington, D.C., featuring three brick stories and four large bays for vehicles. The structure includes a decorative rooftop tower and retains original details such as terrazzo floors and fire poles throughout its interior.
Engine Company 16 was founded in 1904 and relocated multiple times before moving to its current location in 1932, the last new downtown firehouse built at that time. The building was designed by architect Albert L. Harris as part of efforts to improve efficiency by consolidating fire service units.
The fire station represents how a modern city honors its public institutions by keeping historic buildings active in daily service. The building's prominent placement and careful design show how the fire service was viewed as a central part of community life in the early 20th century.
The fire station is located at 1018 13th Street NW in the heart of downtown and is easy to find from the street. The distinctive brick facade and rooftop tower make it immediately recognizable when walking through the area.
The decorative tower on the roof looks like a functional hose tower but serves only as an architectural feature with no practical purpose. This design choice was typical of prestigious fire stations of that era, marking the building as an important civic institution.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
