Kenneth Hoover will work tirelessly until that vision becomes reality.

"When firefighters set their mind to something, they're gonna do it," said Hoover, speaking for the Firefighters Historic Preservation Foundation of Missouri.

They will have to set their mind to the tune of $3.1 million, the projected cost of the museum.

"We'll see how those donations come in. But, if it doesn't, a bunch of us are going to stand on the intersections with boots and helmets and raise it a dollar at a time until we get that $3 million,"stated Hoover.

Hoover says the organization will stand at intersections because they believe in what they're doing.

"That's our main goal to always preserve the history of the firefighters; the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice and served their communities, so they can be properly remembered," said Hoover.

Hoover said the museum will house all of the history from "all the fire houses in the state of Missouri that we can research and find."

Designs for the 24,000 square foot museum include plans for a showroom big enough for 18 different fire trucks. The building will also have a training facility for firefighters and interactive rooms to teach kids about safety. One element of the history Missouri firefighters want preserved is the story of their statue.

"The statue was built overseas, was supposed to come across the ocean, up the Mississippi River to the Port of St. Louis and trucked here. One day after 9/11, we got a call from the Port Authorities in New York and our statue was sitting there. So, we had a teleconference with our directors and decided to donate our $70,000 statue to the Firefighters in New York. We had our second one built and constructed and then we destroyed the mold," said Hoover

As a thank you gift, the firefighters were given a piece of the Twin Towers. Once constructed, the girder will be placed in the museum. Hoover explained the board of his organization wants the $3.1 million raised by December, and the museum ready to open by next May. But even if it takes a little longer, the money will be raised.

"Firefighters don't give up," Hoover said. "They're going to push on."