While the charming town of Tomar, Portugal may be better known for attractions like Convent of Christ and the Castle of Tomar, this historical town holds more hidden gems in less suspecting spots.
On the local firefighting headquarters, onlookers can find an unsuspecting a mural celebrating the American heroine, Molly Williams. Williams was an enslaved person of the New York merchant Benjamin Aymar. In the harsh winter of 1818, she joined Ocean Engine Company #11 in Manhattan.
Despite the lack of manual fire pumps, Molly stepped in to fight a fire in the company’s jurisdiction. She pulled an aerial lorry alone through deep snow, earning her the nickname “Volunteer No. 11” within the company. Williams became the first known female firefighter, as well as the first known Black female firefighter in the United States.
In 2019 the Molly Williams mural was painted by street artist Robot as part of an art initiative bringing a variety of murals to Tomar.
