Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The Citizens’ Fire, Marine and Life Insurance Company of Wheeling, West Virginia issued this cast iron fire mark in 1856. This semi-circular mark has raised text around the upper half that reads “CITIZENS” and raised text below that reads “INS. CO.” The Citizens’ Fire, Marine and Life Insurance Company operated from 1856 until 1877.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- maker
- unknown
- date made
- 1856
- Credit Line
- Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
- Physical Description
- cast iron (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 5 1/2 in x 12 3/4 in; 13.97 cm x 32.385 cm
- Object Name
- fire mark
