The Lens: Capturing Life and Events at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The Lens: Capturing Life and Events at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Five women in traditional Mennonite dresses look down from the ramp in Foundation Hall to view the slurry wall and Last Column.
Visitors overlooking Foundation Hall. Photo by Jin Lee.

The Lens: Capturing Life and Events at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a photography series devoted to documenting moments big and small that unfold at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

The View: 9/11 Memorial Museum visitors take in the view of the slurry wall and Last Column from the museum’s Foundation Hall overlook.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Stories & Art Program Features “The Giving Tree”

Stories & Art Program Features “The Giving Tree”

A young girl and a woman listen to a special guest reading at the Museum’s Education Center.
Museum visitors listen to a special guest read during the Stories & Art program.

This Friday, as part of the Stories & Art education program, the 9/11 Memorial Museum welcomes a special guest to read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein and to discuss its parallels to the story of 9/11, specifically the story of the Survivor Tree.

Centered on a boy and a tree, the story of “The Giving Tree” shows how strong love can be, even during the darkest times.

Guest reader, Ron Vega, the 9/11 Memorial Senior Director of Design and Construction, was a survivor of 9/11 and a key figure in the recovery and ongoing care for the Survivor Tree.

“This book has many great themes that relate to the story of 9/11 and more broadly to the symbolism of trees in our society,” said Vega. “I have always been a fan of this book and with my background, this is a great way for me to engage with a young audience.”

“The Giving Tree” Stories & Art program is offered on July 17 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the Museum’s Education Center. Each participating group will receive a complimentary copy of the book. The program is limited to 30 guests per program and reservations are recommended. Walk-ins are welcome, space permitting.

By Claire Gallo, 9/11 Memorial Communications Intern

NewYork.com: 'Memorial Tour with Museum Admission'

NewYork.com: 'Memorial Tour with Museum Admission'

A 9/11 Memorial tour guide tells visitors about the Memorial. About a dozen visitors watch on as he speaks to them.
9/11 Memorial tour guide tells visitors about the Memorial. (Photo by Jin Lee)

Tickets are now available on NewYork.com for the official 9/11 Memorial Guided Tour, which also includes admission to the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

The 9/11 Memorial began offering guided tours of the Memorial in April. These tours allow visitors to explore the symbolism behind its design, the historical significance of the World Trade Center and what happened on 9/11. The 45-minute tour includes a walk through of the memorial plaza with an experienced tour guide retelling what happened on 9/11 and the stories of those who were lost.

“Our focus is twofold; primarily we want to honor the lives of the thousands of victims, while simultaneously providing the historical context of the 9/11 terrorist attacks,” said 9/11 Memorial tour guide Aleksandr Ustin. “With discussing how these horrific attacks unfolded more than 13 years ago, it’s vital that we not forget that those individuals here that morning were everyday people like you and I – sharing unique personalities, common interest and hobbies.”

The official 9/11 Memorial Tour is offered starting at 11:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday. 

By Claire Gallo, 9/11 Memorial Communications Intern

A Standout Among a Firefighting Legacy Teeming with Courage

A Standout Among a Firefighting Legacy Teeming with Courage

A radio used by FDNY fire chief Peter Ganci Jr. is displayed on a gray surface. The radio is damaged and covered in dust.
Radio used by FDNY Fire Chief Peter J. Ganci Jr. Photo by Michael Hnatov.

Fire Chief Peter J. Ganci Jr. ended up beneath the rubble of the fallen tower, his emergency radio busted in the collapse.

FDNY’s highest-ranking uniformed officer pulled himself from what remained of the South Tower and grabbed another multichannel radio. After ordering his men to establish a command post farther away, the undeterred Ganci stood in front of the North Tower and used the radio he found to continue the 9/11 rescue effort, saving thousands of lives.

Ganci, who also told then-Mayor Giuliani to clear out, was killed in the North Tower collapse. He commanded the rescue effort up until his final moments. 

"When the tower came down, he got his men out," Giuliani said in a New York Times story published Sept. 16, 2001. "He sent them north, and he went south–right into the danger–to get more of them out."  

Ganci’s multichannel radio and other FDNY artifacts are on display at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, where his story, and those of other first responders, are shared with the world.

This year, the city of New York is recognizing the 150th anniversary of the FDNY. Like the museum, the city’s commemoration of the department and its members is spreading awareness of the storied agency and honoring the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who serve.   

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Pope Francis to Visit Memorial and Museum

Pope Francis to Visit Memorial and Museum

Pope Francis greets visitors in Varginha, Brazil.
Pope Francis at Varginha, Brazil. Photo credit: Agência Brasil

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

A Tribute to PAPD K-9 Officer Sirius

A Tribute to PAPD K-9 Officer Sirius

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Port Authority Police Department Lt. David Lim and his K-9 patrol partner, a yellow Lab named Sirius

On September 11, 2001, Port Authority Police Department Lt. David Lim was in the basement below the World Trade Center's South Tower with his K-9 partner Sirius when he felt the building violently tremble. Feeling duty-bound to assist potentially injured civilians, Lim took time to secure Sirius in his kennel and then went to investigate the disruption, telling his partner, "I'll be back for you."

After miraculously surviving the collapse of the North Tower, Lim's first instinct was to find Sirius, but he was rushed into an ambulance and brought to St. Vincent's Hospital for treatment of injuries he had sustained from the collapse. Unfortunately, Sirius was not as lucky as Lim. His remains, recovered in the winter of 2002 in the wreckage of the South Tower, were ceremoniously removed from Ground Zero with a full honor guard, in a manner befitting a hard-working member of the PAPD.

Recently, Lim donated items in memory of Sirius to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, including a training leash and one of Sirius' badges. Additionally, he gifted the soiled boots and gun belt that he had worn on September 11, 2001 as vestiges of his remarkable survivor story. To view more items in the museum's collection click here.

Sirius TributesItems donated to the museum by Lim, including a training leash and one of Sirius' badges.

Lim's BootsSoiled boots worn by Lim on 9/11, recently gifted to the museum by Lim.

9/11 Memorial Museum Curator: Photo ID Cards Found at ground zero tell stories

9/11 Memorial Museum Curator: Photo ID Cards Found at ground zero tell stories

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Of the items that remained from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, identification cards of personel were some of the most prevalent.  Salvaged by recovery workers and forensic experts from the Fresh Kills landfill, a recovered ID badge was often the only evidence that someone had been in the WTC complex on Sept. 11. Authorities went to great lengths to return IDs to victims’ families and survivors.

Some who hastily evacuated the towers on 9/11 left their photo ID badges behind. Christopher Briggs Young, a temporary employee for Marsh & McLennan Insurance Company and one of the last to escape the North Tower before its collapse, retained the visitor pass that was issued at 8:30 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 11. Young was on his way to deliver a box of meeting materials to the 99th floor when he was trapped, alone, in an express elevator.  After a half an hour, the collapse of the South Tower triggered a power failure that disabled the motor keeping the elevator doors sealed. Young extricated himself from the elevator and escaped from the building, running as the North Tower crumbled behind him. Learn more about other stories online.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is interested in acquiring World Trade Center ID badges and learning the individual stories associated with each. Please contact collections@sept11mm.org if you wish to donate one to the permanent collection.

By Jan Ramirez, Chief Curator for the 9/11 Memorial Museum

 

Every vote, artifact counts: Betsy Gotbaum gives back to 9/11 Memorial

Every vote, artifact counts: Betsy Gotbaum gives back to 9/11 Memorial

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On 9/11, many people recall a day that began like any other, marked by a strikingly clear blue sky. They can vividly identify where they were or what they were doing as the attacks began to unfold.

Prior to the crash of the first plane into the North Tower, New York was bustling with activity, typical of the morning rush. Parents sent children off to school, which had just resumed after Labor Day. Many hastened to the polls to do their civic duty by voting in the city’s primary elections. Some slept in, slow to shake off the Monday Night Football game that ran late into the night. In retrospect, these quotidian activities may have played a substantial role in saving lives, as they placed many World Trade Center employees far from their workstations, delaying the early birds.

The 9/11 Memorial Museum is actively acquiring materials relating to the Sept. 11  primaries as part of a larger effort to document the disruptions to notions of “normalcy” that prevailed before 8:46 a.m.. One example is a campaign button worn by supporters of Betsy Gotbaum, who was running as a Democrat for public advocate. Gotbaum was on the streets that morning, urging passerby’s to vote.  After the attacks, then-governor George Pataki declared a statewide emergency and rescheduled the elections for Sept. 25. The button recalls New York City’s focus on the hotly fought contests across the five boroughs.

Other election-related materials in the permanent collection include various brochures, pamphlets and mailers. This collection is a work in progress, and the museum’s curator would be eager to receive additional Sept. 11 primary day artifacts. All are invited to help participate in the creation of the exhibition by sharing memories, objects, photos and other materials with Museum. Donate through our website or contact the Memorial and Museum by phone, 212 312 8800.

By Jan Ramirez, Chief Curator of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Alexandra Drakakis, Administrative Curatorial Assistant for the 9/11 Memorial and Museum contributed.

Oral Historians for 9/11 Memorial Museum hit the Road

Oral Historians for 9/11 Memorial Museum hit the Road

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Sometimes, you just need to get out the office to get the job done. That was the case for 9/11 Memorial Museum staff members Amy Weinstein, Jenny Pachuki and Ryan Pawling, who traveled  to Florida for a "workation."

Tasked to interview residents of Palm Beach Gardens, many of whom were responders and family members of victims of to the Sept. 11 attacks, our dedicated crew made a point to get a better understanding of the family members lost on that fateful day.

"We want people to tell us what the person was like. Did they coach little league? What color were their eyes?" Amy Weisntein tells a reporter from The Palm Beach Post.

Members of the community were encouraged to sign up and interview at the Palm Beach Gardens City Hall from Dec. 4 to Dec. 5. Many made reservations and brought photographs to tell a more complete story of their lost loved one.

All are invited to help participate in the creation of exhibitions by sharing memories, objects, photos and other materials with the museum. Donate through our website or contact the Memorial and Museum by phone, 212 312 8800.

By Norm Dannen,  Public Affairs Associate

 

Large 9/11 artifacts heading to the museum

Large 9/11 artifacts heading to the museum

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An online slideshow and story from DNAinfo.com reveals some of the large artifacts that are heading for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in the fall.

According to DNAinfo’s Julie Shapiro, “The items include a 47,000-pound piece of the North Tower’s antenna and a 10,000-pound elevator motor that once propelled workers up into the skyscrapers.”

The 9/11 Memorial will open September 11, 2011, and the museum will open in 2012.

By Meghan Walsh, Communications Associate for the 9/11 Memorial

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