About 9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a tribute to the nearly 3,000 individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The Memorial is located in lower Manhattan, New York City, on the site of the former World Trade Center, and opened to the public on September 11, 2011, on the 10th anniversary of the attacks. The 9/11 Museum is a somber and emotional experience that takes visitors through the history of the World Trade Center, the events of September 11, 2001, and the aftermath of the attacks. The museum contains over 10,000 artifacts, including photographs, audio and video recordings, and personal items belonging to victims and survivors.


Inside the museum, visitors can see the "Survivor's Stairs," which served as an escape route for those fleeing the attacks, and a section of the "Last Column," the final steel beam removed from the World Trade Center site. The museum also includes a display of the original slurry wall, which held back the Hudson River during the attacks, and a gallery of artwork and personal tributes created in the aftermath of the tragedy.


One of the most powerful exhibits is the "In Memoriam" exhibition, which displays photographs of every person who died on September 11, 2001, and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Visitors can also view an interactive timeline of the events leading up to the attacks and the aftermath, including the rescue and recovery efforts. Overall, the 9/11 Museum is a moving tribute to the victims, survivors, and heroes of September 11, 2001, and serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of the American people in the face of tragedy.


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What’s Inside the 9/11 Museum?

The idea of creating a museum to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001, originated shortly after the attacks as a way to honor and remember the victims and heroes of that day. The museum was envisioned as a space to house artifacts, documents, and personal stories related to the attacks, as well as a place for visitors to pay their respects and learn about the history and impact of the tragedy. The creation of the 9/11 Museum was a collaborative effort between government agencies, private organizations, and individual donors, with the goal of ensuring that the memory of 9/11 would be preserved for future generations.


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Entrance of the Museum
Entrance of the Museum

As you enter the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, your eyes are drawn to the towering steel tridents that stand before you. These impressive structures were salvaged from the facade of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, and now serve as a symbolic entrance to the museum. As you walk through the tridents, you can't help but feel the weight of their history and the significance of the space you're about to enter.


These tridents are a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of the American people in the face of tragedy. They stand tall and proud, a tribute to the heroes and victims of September 11, 2001. As you make your way through the museum, you'll see countless other artifacts, documents, and personal stories that further commemorate this tragic event. But it all starts with these towering steel tridents, beckoning visitors to enter and pay their respects.


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Slurry Wall
Slurry Wall

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is home to a striking mosaic made up of almost 3,000 blue tiles that represent the clear blue sky on the morning of the attacks. Adorned with a quote from the famous Roman poet Virgil, this stunning piece of artwork serves as a poignant tribute to the lives lost on that fateful day. The use of blue tiles creates a mesmerizing effect, while the quote adds a powerful message of remembrance and resilience. This artwork is just one example of the many moving exhibits that can be found at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.


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Video History
Video History

As you explore the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, you'll have the opportunity to witness the powerful impact of video images. Inside the museum, more than 500 hours of moving images are on display, providing a powerful and emotional insight into the events of September 11, 2001. These videos offer a unique perspective, capturing the true extent of the tragedy and showcasing the incredible bravery and resilience of the people who were there. By immersing yourself in these moving images, you'll gain a deeper understanding of this pivotal moment in history and the impact it had on individuals and society as a whole.


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Survivors' Stairs
Survivors' Stairs

The "Survivors' Stairs" at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum are a poignant reminder of the bravery and perseverance of those who survived the attacks on the World Trade Center. These stairs served as a crucial escape route for many people on September 11, 2001, and have been preserved as a symbol of hope and resilience. Visitors to the museum can walk alongside the final stretch of the ramp that leads down to the exhibition galleries, experiencing a small part of the journey that survivors took on that fateful day. The "Survivors' Stairs" are a moving tribute to the strength of the human spirit in the face of tragedy.


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Photographs of Each Hijacker
Photographs of Each Hijacker

At the 9/11 Museum, visitors can explore the history of the terrorist group responsible for the devastating attacks on September 11, 2001. The museum displays portraits of the al-Qaeda hijackers who seized control of the planes that day, as well as providing information about the group's leader, Osama bin Laden. In addition to the 2001 attacks, the museum also covers the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, carried out by a separate group of terrorists. Through exhibits and artifacts, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of these tragic events and their lasting impact on the world.


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Remains of Airplane
Remains of Airplane

Fragments of the fuselage of Flight 11, a Boeing 767 that crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, are on display at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The jet was carrying 76 passengers and 11 crew members, all of whom perished in the attack. United Airlines Flight 175, another 767, also crashed into the South Tower that morning, killing all 51 passengers and nine crew members. These two flights had departed from Logan International Airport in Boston and were bound for Los Angeles before being hijacked by terrorists from al-Qaeda.

Twisted Steel
Twisted Steel

Displayed within the 9/11 Museum is a poignant reminder of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Visitors can view steel beams from the North Tower of the World Trade Center, specifically from floors 97 and 98. These pieces of steel serve as a physical connection to the iconic skyscraper and the individuals who were in the building at the time of the attacks. They serve as a testament to the bravery and resilience of the human spirit in the face of tragedy, and as a symbol of the unity and hope that emerged in the aftermath of the attacks.


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Firefighter Gear
Firefighter Gear

One of the poignant artifacts in the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the helmets worn by Firefighter Christian Waugh of the New York City Fire Department on the day of the attacks. These helmets serve as a powerful reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the first responders who risked their lives to save others. They symbolize the courage and determination of those who put themselves in harm's way to help those in need, and the deep sense of duty and honor that guides the men and women of the FDNY.

Firefighters Vehicle
Firefighters Vehicle

One of the most poignant exhibits at the 9/11 Museum is the remains of “Ladder 3,” a fire truck that carried 11 firefighters to the World Trade Center on the morning of the attacks. Tragically, all of the firefighters lost their lives in the collapse of the towers. The battered and twisted metal of the truck serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifice and bravery of first responders on that fateful day. It is a solemn tribute to the heroes who risked everything to save others and a reminder of the human toll of the 9/11 attacks.

Elevator Damaged Parts
Elevator Damaged Parts

Beside the remains of a fire truck that was crushed during the collapse of the North Tower, a small elevator motor sits as a poignant reminder of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The motor, which was likely used to power one of the World Trade Center's many elevators, serves as a symbol of the destruction and devastation wrought by the terrorist attacks. As visitors to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum stand before this artifact, they are reminded of the incredible bravery of the first responders who risked their lives to save others on that fateful day.

Transmission Tower
Transmission Tower

Visitors to the 9/11 Museum can see a haunting exhibit featuring the twisted remains of a portion of the television transmission tower from the World Trade Center. The tower was destroyed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and its twisted metal serves as a poignant reminder of the devastation that occurred that day. The exhibit allows visitors to reflect on the impact of the attacks and pay tribute to the individuals who lost their lives in this tragedy.

Gratitude and Mementos
Gratitude and Mementos

The 9/11 attacks led to an outpouring of support and solidarity, with many individuals and organizations coming together to help in any way they could. Among them were the brave men and women who rushed to the scene to try to save lives, many of whom lost their own in the process. Today, visitors to the 9/11 Museum can view a collection of prayer cards, patches, and other mementos left by these would-be rescuers, serving as a poignant reminder of their selflessness and sacrifice in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Video Image of the First Strike
Video Image of the First Strike

This video image captures the harrowing aftermath of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. The towers, once icons of the New York City skyline, are now engulfed in smoke and flames, a shocking and tragic sight. The image serves as a haunting reminder of the devastating impact of the terrorist attacks, and the profound loss of life that occurred on that day. It is a poignant tribute to the victims, and a powerful symbol of the resilience and strength of the American people in the face of tragedy.

Cloud of Ash Image
Cloud of Ash Image

The shocking events of September 11, 2001, changed the world forever. One of the most iconic and devastating images of that day is the collapse of one of the World Trade Center towers. The photograph captures the unimaginable destruction and loss of life that occurred in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. It serves as a poignant reminder of the bravery of the first responders who risked their lives to save others and the resilience of the American people in the face of tragedy.

The Last Column
The Last Column

Standing tall inside the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the Last Column, a poignant and powerful reminder of the events that unfolded on September 11, 2001. This symbolic steel beam was once a part of one of the World Trade Center towers, and now serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of the American people. Nearby, the slurry wall stands strong and unyielding, having held back the powerful currents of the Hudson River during the aftermath of the attacks. This concrete behemoth, also known as the "bathtub," prevented the waters from flooding lower Manhattan and the PATH train tunnels, standing firm against the weight of tons of collapsing debris.

FAQ’s for 9/11 Museum

What can visitors see inside the 9/11 Museum?

    The museum contains over 10,000 9/11 artifacts, including photographs, audio and video recordings, and personal items belonging to victims and survivors. Visitors can see the "Survivor's Stairs," the "Last Column," a display of the original slurry wall, and a gallery of artwork and personal tributes created in the aftermath of the tragedy.

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