A Blast of 80’s Nostalgia – Ghostbuster Firehouse, Manhattan
If you grew up watching 80’s flicks and sitcoms, the striking red bricks of this old firehouse might spark a few memories. Located on North Moore Street in Lower Manhattan, the 1903 Beux-Arts building is the current home to the real-life Hook and Ladder Company 8. These firefighters were the first responders involved in the September 11 attack rescue efforts.
It is a real life fire station to the general public, but there may be a handful of members of society, who may remember this landmark from a completely different setting. It was the exact same firehouse, that served as the Ghostbusters HQ in the 1984 film. It was even featured, during the movie reboot in 2016. While there isn’t anything to indicate, that the location was used for the film (i.e. leftover Ghostbuster signs or props), many can distinguish the building by its external features alone.
Besides ghostbusters, the building has also served as a backdrop to various films and tv shows during the 80’s. This makes it a prime location to take travel photos, especially if you grew up in the 80’s and are looking for a nostalgic kick in your travel senses.
Between 2016 and 2018, the building has gone through extensive refurbishing of its interior living spaces and facilities. Despite that, it looks exactly the same and as iconic as ever from the outside. If you’re interested, don’t just loiter around outside taking pictures. If the Hook and Ladder firefighters are free, they’ll be more than happy to provide a little tour around their office and living spaces. If you’re lucky enough, they may show you their collection of melted clocks and phones retrieved during several fire fighting missions.
So, the next time you are in New York, why not stop by the not-so ghostly firehouse and have a look around. Reap in that nostalgia by snapping photos of the area and be shown around by a personally guided tour. The firehouse is easily accessible by taking the 1 and 2 trains at the Franklin Street Station.
Address: 14 North Moore street
New York, New York, 10013
United States
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- FDNY Hook & Ladder Company 8 (Ghostbusters exterior), 14 North Moore Street, Tribeca, Manhattan, New York, USA
- Coordinates
- 40.71956, -74.00662
- Access
- Hook & Ladder 8 is an active FDNY fire station, not a Ghostbusters museum. See and photograph the façade only from the public sidewalk; do not enter the building, block the apparatus doors, or distract firefighters. The firehouse may respond at any moment, so leave the area clear.
- Admission
- There is no ticket for viewing the exterior from the public sidewalk. The station interior is operational space and is not open for routine sightseeing; no regular public tour or admission programme is published.
- Time needed
- Allow about 5–15 minutes for a brief exterior look and photograph; this is a visitor-planning estimate from a recent location guide, not an official duration. Do not wait or linger if the crew needs the sidewalk or street clear.
- Best season
- No preferred season is published. The façade can be viewed outdoors year-round from the sidewalk, subject to weather, street access and firehouse operations; no seasonal event or public interior visit is promised.
- Opening hours
- No visitor opening hours or regular tour schedule are published. This is an active, around-the-clock fire station, but that does not mean visitors may enter at any hour. Limit any visit to the public sidewalk when street access is open, and keep all response routes clear.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-07
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-07
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