Understanding the events of 9/11 can be difficult to grasp for anyone, especially young children. If you are planning on visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum with children and wish for them to get the most out of their experience, consider participating in either a Stories & Arts session or visiting our activity stations. 

The Stories & Arts sessions, designed for children ages five to 10 and their caregivers, include a special guest reading with a theme tied to 9/11 followed by an optional hands-on art activity. This program allows children to learn about the events of 9/11 through an age-appropriate lens.  

There is a limit to 30 guests per Stories & Arts program and reservations are recommended. The program is located in the Education Center, Classroom C and is held at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on select dates. View the complete schedule. 

Our activity stations are tied to specific artifacts and themes throughout the Museum. Children and their guardians are given the opportunity to discuss the history of the World Trade Center, 9/11 and its aftermath. This is a weekly program in the summer that takes place in the Museum’s Education Center every Wednesday through Friday.

By Claire Gallo, 9/11 Memorial Communications Intern

One of the world’s most recognizable leaders will visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in September. Pope Francis will visit on Sept. 25, 2015 to pay his respects to the victims of 9/11 and meet with local religious leaders from across many faiths. “We are deeply honored to welcome one of the world’s most respected figures to the Memorial and Museum. This visit is another powerful example of the significance global leaders are placing on coming to this sacred ground,” 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels said. “Pope Francis has expressed the importance of preserving the living memory of others. For many around the world, including those who experienced 9/11, there is no more important a place for that kind of reflection than the Memorial and Museum.” This visit is part of the pontiff’s first trip to America, becoming the fourth leader of the Roman Catholic Church to visit the United States. After seeing the Memorial, the Pope will lead a Multireligious Meeting for Peace inside the Museum, where he will gather with local representatives of the world religions to give a common witness to peace. 

“During the darkest days after the 9/11 attacks, the remarkable triumph of the human spirit – demonstrated through acts of courage, determination, and generosity as we came together and buttressed our grief with faith in the possibility of renewal – inspired not only our country but people around the world,” 9/11 Memorial Museum Director Alice Greenwald said. Francis will also be the first pope to visit the Memorial and Museum. The last time a Pope was at the World Trade Center site, the Memorial and Museum were not yet open. Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, knelt and prayed during a ceremony in April 2008 at Ground Zero. While many will wish to see the Pope, there are capacity and security restrictions at the Memorial and Museum. A lottery will be held to offer an opportunity for a select number of guests from the 9/11 community to join the Pope on the Memorial, as well as for an extremely limited number to attend the event hosted by the New York Archdiocese in the Museum. More details will follow.

By Anthony Guido, 9/11 Memorial Director of Communications

Each of the 17 fire helmets in the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s care tell a unique story about the person who it belonged to and the experiences he had on Sept. 11, 2001. The fire helmets in the collection range from those worn by the probationary to the level of the chief.

Among them is a white, leather chief’s helmet donated by Battalion Chief Joseph Pfeifer. After witnessing hijacked flight 11 crash into the North Tower, Pfeifer responded with members of Engine 7 and Ladder 1. He established a command center in the North Tower and remained there until he had to run to safety as the tower collapsed. Pfeifer was able to escape that day. His brother, Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, who also responded with his company, Engine 33, did not.

Listen to Amy Weinstein, Director of Collections and Senior Oral Historian, discuss the story behind Chief Pfeifer's helmet. Weinstein also touches on why a donation of a fire helmet is among the most honored gifts at the Museum, and how this particular helmet tells stories of the fate of the Pfeifer brothers. (Audio)

By Jenny Pachucki, Content Strategist

The new renderings for the new 80-story 2 World Trade Center were released last week. The new building, standing at 1,340 feet tall, will be the last of the seven buildings to be completed that encompass the WTC site. The Danish architecture firm BIG led by architect Bjarke Ingels, created the concept for the skyscraper that includes seven separate stacked boxes.

Because of the stair step appearance, 2 WTC becomes one of the first of its kind to incorporate green gardens on each of the seven courtyards. The plan is to have each of these courtyards represent the seven different bio zones found across the world, ranging from tropical to arctic. A recent story published at Smithsonian.com has more details.

The skyscraper will be considered one of the greenest buildings in the country, perfectly complimenting its surroundings, according to the story. The 9/11 Memorial, 2 WTC’s neighbor, is known as one of the most sustainable, green plazas ever constructed. Through its design, the Memorial is able to conserve energy, water and other resources due to irrigation, storm water and pest management.

By Claire Gallo, Communications and Marketing Intern