Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small announced significant progress Tuesday in preserving Fire Station 2, the century-old firehouse at the corner of Indiana and Baltic avenues that's now in the middle of a $4.6 million restoration. Crews are replacing the building's windows, doors and roof, while a separate phase of work will renovate the station's kitchen and bathroom.
The announcement, reported by 6abc, marks another milestone for a building the city has spent roughly a year working to save. Fire Station 2 is 103 years old, according to Breaking AC, and its preservation has been pieced together through a mix of state and federal grants rather than a single funding source.
A Mural Marks the Moment
Alongside the construction news, a new mural titled “The Door That Opened, 2026,” created by artist Chanelle René, was unveiled beside the station as a tribute to Atlantic City's firefighters. The unveiling was documented in a gallery from The Press of Atlantic City, which described the artwork as part of Phase 1 exterior improvements — a $750,000 piece of the larger $4.6 million restoration. Funding includes grants from the New Jersey Historic Trust and the federal African American Civil Rights Grant program.
Small said he was happy with the visible changes already underway and excited about the interior improvements still to come, per the station's report. The kitchen and bathroom renovations represent the next visible chapter for a building that has served as a working firehouse for more than a century.
How the Interior Funding Came Together
The interior preservation work traces back to a pair of $750,000 grants secured last year. Fire Station 2 received a $750,000 African American Civil Rights Grant to preserve its interior, and the city separately secured a $750,000 New Jersey Historic Trust grant, bringing the two interior-focused awards to $1.5 million combined, according to the same Breaking AC report.
That interior work is planned to restore historic finishes, expand kitchen facilities, improve dormitory areas, and upgrade the building's HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems. On the exterior side, all three of the station's roofs are being replaced, with exterior masonry repointed and wall flashing replaced as well, the outlet noted.
Other Firehouses Could Be Next
Fire Station 2 isn't the only historic firehouse on the city's radar. Atlantic City has secured funding to assess four additional firehouses for possible nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, according to Breaking AC's reporting. Separately, Firehouse.com reported that funding has been earmarked to assess Fire House No. 4 on Atlantic Avenue and Fire House No. 6, also on Atlantic Avenue, for similar historic designation.
City officials have framed the broader push as a matter of civic priority. “Historical preservation is a priority,” officials told Firehouse.com, a sentiment that lines up with the city's growing list of firehouse preservation efforts beyond Indiana and Baltic avenues. For now, the newly unveiled mural stands as a visible marker of how far the Fire Station 2 project has come — with the interior renovations still ahead.
