A woman visits the In Memoriam exhibition. On the wall in front of her and to her right are 2,983 portrait photographs of the victims.
Photo by Dan Winters

In Memoriam

The memorial exhibition honors the 2,977 individuals killed as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the six individuals killed in the bombing of the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993.

An interior look at the In Memoriam exhibition. Personal artifacts that belonged to victims are displayed on the walls of an inner chamber in which their profiles are projected. Some of the 2,983 portrait photographs of victims are on walls to the left and right of the chamber.
Photo by Jin S. Lee

About the Exhibition

Immediately conveying the enormity of loss, a floor-to-ceiling presentation of 2,983 portrait photographs surrounds visitors as they enter the gallery. These four walls present a true cross-section of humanity, ages two and a half to 85, from more than 90 nations, spanning the spectrum of ethnicities, socioeconomic sectors, and faith traditions.

The gallery’s inner chamber provides a more intimate space for remembrance. Profiles of victims are projected onto the walls of this room along with personal photographs and recorded remembrances left by family members, friends, and former colleagues.

In this interior look at the In Memoriam exhibition, a visitor standing in the foreground is looking at personal items that belonged to victims of the attacks that are on view in a display case.  Two other visitors linger over some of the 2,983 portrait photographs of victims are on walls to the left and right of the chamber.
Photo by Jin S. Lee

Objects on View

Artifact cases feature displays of recovered property and objects reflecting the interests and activities of the victims before their lives were cut short. New artifacts are displayed annually. 

Onesie worn by granddaughter of Ronald Carl Fazio, Sr.

Courtesy Rob Fazio

Ronald Fazio was known for his love of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, so much so that his family attached candy wrappers to the posters they created after 9/11 and added the appeal “If found, please feed Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!” They continue to place the candy near his name at the south Memorial pool. In 2016, the family visited the Memorial with a new member: Ronald’s granddaughter, Reese.

Child's orange onesie with Reese's logo

Recovered front piece from FDNY helmet of Sean S. Hanley

Collection 9/11 Memorial Museum, Gift of Gerald F. Hanley

Sean Hanley came from a family of firefighters. When he joined the FDNY, he assumed his maternal grandfather’s badge number and was assigned to his grandfather’s former firehouse, Ladder Company 20. On the morning of September 11, Sean had just finished a night shift when he learned of the attacks and responded to the World Trade Center.

Visibly misshapen front piece from FDNY firefighter helmet, with the number 20 in yellow gold against a dark red background

Mission to Remember: Acquiring Artifacts

As part of our mission to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 terrorist attacks, the 9/11 Memorial Museum works with family members, close friends, and coworkers to collect artifacts and spoken remembrances that illustrate the lives, personalities, and passions of those who were killed.
 
In the video below, Executive Vice President of Collections and Chief Curator Jan Seidler Ramirez shares how her team collects objects for display in the Museum.

Video: Mission to Remember Series: Acquiring Artifacts

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