9/11 Tribute Museum
On September 11th, 2001, four US passenger airlines were highjacked—two of which were intentionally flown into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center. The consequent collapse of the two iconic towers killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000, making it the single deadliest terrorist attack in human history. The events not only had devastating consequences on the lives, property, and economy of Americans but also fundamentally changed the country's approach to security and foreign relations. Since that horrible day, there have been countless memorial activities, dedications, and other thoughtful endeavors around the country, including the 9/11 Tribute Museum in New York City.
What’s in the 9/11 Tribute Museum?
The 9/11 Tribute Museum opened in September of 2006 as a way to honor and commemorate the personal stories of victims, survivors, rescue workers, and families involved in the attacks. The museum provides walking tours, exhibitions, and programs that tell these stories for the more than four million people that visit each year. According to The Washington Post’s Philip Kennicott, the museum “is far more than a supplement. It is structured like our memories of the day, a hellish descent into a dark place, where a tape of death and destruction is endlessly playing on every television screen in America.”
Tours of the museum encompass three floors, each emphasizing different facets of the history. There are eight walking tours a day, each lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes. There are several exhibits at the 9/11 Tribute Museum, including documentation of the attacks of February 1993.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the museum has a current exhibit highlighting the contributions of women to the rebuilding effort of The World Trade Center. Women were an integral part of the reconstruction process, from welding steel to designing the structural engineering plans. Many more women served as advocates for the community.
If you opt for the walking tour, you will get an intimate guide of significant locations in the city related to 9/11. This tour includes hearing personal accounts of the attacks and learning about how New Yorkers sought to rebuild their city. It is a one-of-a-kind tribute to resilience, survival, service, loss, and healing.
9/11 Tribute Museum Facts
The 9/11 Tribute Museum is the latest name for this memorial site. Previous titles include the 9/11 Tribute Center and Tribute WTC Visitor Center. The museum is the brainchild of the September 11th Families’ Association, whose goal is to “unite and support all victims of terrorism through communication, representation, and peer support.”
Currently, the museum has more than 10,000 artifacts in their collection, with 1,000 of them on display. Many of the objects rotate regularly. One of the largest and most iconic is a 60-ton steel beam that became a shrine to victims after the attacks.
Millions of people visit the 9/11 Tribute Museum each year. Some of the more notable guests have included Pope Francis, Britain's Prince William and Princess Catherine, and Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudolph Giuliani. Multiple presidents have paid visits to the site, including Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
Final Words
September 11th will stand forever as one of the most significant and dark days in American history. The loss of life and destruction was a tragedy that shook the country to its core. If you find yourself visiting Lower Manhattan, it is well worth it to set aside time in your travel plans to visit this museum.
Tickets to the gallery are $5 for children, $10 for students and seniors, and $15 for adults. The fee includes access to the videos, oral history, and other exhibits documenting the attacks. The 9/11 Tribute Museum also offers guided tours of the memorial with survivors, rescuers, and people involved on 9/11. These tickets are $20 for children and $35 for adults, students, and seniors.
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