Curator Explains Story of a Chief’s Fire Helmet

Curator Explains Story of a Chief’s Fire Helmet

Chief Joseph Pfeifer’s golf-colored fire helmet is displayed on a white surface.
Chief Joseph Pfeifer's fire helmet. Gift of the Pfeifer family in memory of FDNY's 343 heroes. (Photography by Matt Flynn)

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

families, friends of terror attack victims needed for commemorative memorial exhibition (Updated X6)

families, friends of terror attack victims needed for commemorative memorial exhibition (Updated X6)

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When the 9/11 Memorial Museum opens in 2012, it will be a place of which we will be very proud.  That means fulfilling our mission to commemorate the various lives of the 2,982 victims of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 and February 26, 1993.

 

The Memorial Exhibition is the heart of the museum, the place where we can come together to remember all of those individuals who were spouses, children, parents, siblings, friends and colleagues to thousands of people across the United States and the globe. To best illuminate these unique lives for the museum’s millions of expected visitors, we are reaching out to more than 3,500 of the victims’ close family members and friends.

“The memorial exhibition will celebrate each individual life through the remembrances of those who knew them best – their families, friends, and colleagues,” 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels said. Listen to Joe's interview with WCBS radio reporter Sean Adams here.

Update: Help the 9/11 Memorial Museum create the Memorial Exhibition by participating in the "Call to Remember" initiative, which allows people to record 10-minute remembrances about their loved ones. Call toll free at (866) 582-5613 or locally at (646) 248-6225. According to an Associated Press report by veteran staff writer Amy Westfeldt, nearly "3,000 portraits will glow on a brightly lit wall."

NY1 had a broadcast on the Memorial Exhibition.

Together with our partners, StoryCorps and Voices of September 11th, we are requesting photos, recorded remembrances and mementoes to fill our memorial exhibition with personalized stories from those who knew these people best.

Check out www.national911memorial.org/remember to preview the Memorial Exhibition and to learn more about the kinds of materials we are seeking. The curatorial staff, which is working diligently to collect this information, welcomes the opportunity to speak with you directly about this important exhibition. Click here to for contact information.

By Adina Langer, Memorial Exhibition Manager/Curatorial Assistant for the 9/11 Memorial Museum

(Chief Curator Jan Ramirez and her curatorial team, including Amy Weinstein, Meredith Davidson, Alex Drakakis and Jenny Pachucki contributed to this report.)

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