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Abstract
This thesis explores the intersection of firefighting technology and architectural form through the lens of eight historic fire stations in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. Using the National Register of Historic Places Criteria for Evaluation (Bulletin 15), it investigates how changes in fire apparatus, departmental needs, and urban expansion shaped character-defining features of fire stations (1902-1982). The study situates local developments within a national context of fire service modernization, drawing on precedent studies in Saint Paul and Los Angeles. Through archival research, field surveys, and architectural analysis, the project assesses each station’s eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Findings reveal that shifts in station layout, apparatus bay size, and construction material mirror the evolving material culture of firefighting. This thesis contributes to broader preservation discourse by demonstrating that fire stations are not merely utilitarian structures, but architecturally expressive civic landmarks rooted in municipal growth and technological change.