National September 11 Memorial & Museum

Nearly 25 years after 9/11, the #911Memorial remains a beacon of remembrance, resilience & hope. This year marks 10 years since the Museum’s dedication—a decade of honoring the past & educating future generations. From powerful new exhibits to community programs, our 2024 annual report highlights the impact of our mission. Thank you to our supporters who make this work possible. Read the full report & see how we continue to commemorate, educate, and inspire: https://ow.ly/gFzs50VkOw4

On 9/11, United States Air Force Maj. Gen. Jason R. Armagost was a captain flying the B-2 Stealth Bomber for the U.S. Air Force in Missouri. He learned of the attacks while participating in an annual exercise, during which his unit was, ironically, preparing 16 aircraft for a national emergency. We were honored to welcome Maj. Gen. Armagost of the Eighth Air Force to the #911Memorial & Museum for a tour and to pay tribute to the victims of the attacks. During his visit, he reflected on the enduring lessons of military service and the legacy of 9/11, emphasizing the importance of "coming together and being something bigger than you could be by yourself."

Elizabeth Cascio, a retired FDNY EMT, was a first responder during both the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing and the 9/11 attacks. In the aftermath of 9/11, she played a crucial role in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero. By October 2001, she developed a chronic cough, which was later linked to the toxic dust exposure at Ground Zero. In 2019, Cascio was diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, a condition connected to her time spent on the pile. To learn more about the long-term health effects of the toxic dust that covered city streets and infiltrated homes, businesses, and schools, visit "Dust: Illness and Advocacy After 9/11." Access to this installation is included with your #911Museum ticket: https://ow.ly/EQ8l50UKxEe

Our #911Memorial5K, presented by OneRxr, on Sunday, April 27, is a race that unites individuals from all over the world for one single cause: remembering and honoring the victims, the service of those who ran toward danger, and lessons of 9/11. Hear why these two sisters continue to support the #911Memorial5K and register today: https://ow.ly/bt1K50UB75N

At our December 4 public program, Philippe Petit, the legendary French highwire artist, joined #911Museum Director Clifford Chanin for a captivating conversation about his historic tightrope walk between the Twin Towers—what became known as the "artistic crime of the century." Petit shared the extraordinary preparation and challenges that night, recalling, "The story that night of me with two crews of friends, and almost a ton of equipment with me on the South Tower—was, um, I call it a festival of miracles... chance always seemed to be on my side." See our upcoming public programs: https://ow.ly/zpUp50UsPWN

At our November 20 public program, renowned photographer Joe McNally joined the #911Memorial & Museum's Executive Vice President of Collections & Chief Curator, Dr. Jan Ramirez, for a compelling discussion on his project featuring 246 large-scale polaroid portraits. These portraits honor individuals who responded to the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero during the harrowing weeks that followed 9/11. Joe McNally Photography reflected on how the polaroid medium uniquely captured the dignity and humanity of this extraordinary community. “There’s no genius or anything about this,” McNally remarked, reflecting on the approach behind the project. “As a photographer, I think quite logically. Some of the things that entered my head were: if this project is going to be noticed, it has to be different. I’m not going to the pit on a day-to-day basis and documenting the news. It has to transcend that somehow. If it’s going to stand the test of time, there has to be uniqueness to it.” He shared a powerful insight into his process: “When you go black in the studio, there’s about thirty seconds before I would hit the lights. And I like to think, or have thought, that in that thirty seconds of quietude and darkness, the person in front of the lens became who they really were. It allowed them to just absorb that moment and project it back to the lens.” See our upcoming public programs: https://ow.ly/QWtT50UfUv9

At our October 30 public program, Jim Pensiero, former Deputy Managing Editor of the Wall Street Journal, Heidi Evans, former reporter at the Daily News, and Paul Moses, former City Editor and City Hall Bureau Chief at Newsday joined #911Museum Director Clifford Chanin to discuss how New York’s local papers managed to publish despite disrupted communications and destruction in lower Manhattan following 9/11. For the journalists who witnessed the attacks and wrote the headlines the next day, it was the biggest story of their careers. Paul Moses shared a glimpse into the challenge: “I really struggled to find the top of the story. I remember, I would… walk around the newsroom. I may have even gone outside just trying to find it. And eventually, I realized that this is just like every other story you've written, only the pieces are bigger.” With human lives at the forefront, Moses emphasized the essential journalistic priority of honoring those who were killed. “If you’re a New York City reporter…you know that even the death of one firefighter is front-page news. And here you had, we didn’t know how many, but seemingly hundreds.” See our upcoming pubic programs: https://ow.ly/O4fG50U63h5

At our September 19 public program, #911Memorial & Museum President and CEO Beth Hillman joined retired FDNY Captain Brenda Berkman and firefighter Regina Wilson to discuss the history and evolution of women’s roles in the FDNY. When asked why she wanted to join the FDNY, Berkman shared that her desire to serve the community was her primary motivation. "There weren’t any women firefighter role models for me when I was looking for a career," Berkman recalled. "But my family instilled in me the desire to be of service. When people don’t know who else to call in their most dire hours, they call the fire department. I thought, 'This is a great way to serve my community.' The physical and mental challenges of the job also appealed to me. Every day is different — whether you’re rescuing a cat from a tree or responding to the World Trade Center on 9/11. But at its core, it was about service." Check out our upcoming public programs: https://ow.ly/BuRx50TBg1f

For the generations born after the day that changed our world, 9/11 is a taught history instead of a lived memory. Register for our FREE 9/11 Anniversary Digital Learning Experience, featuring first-hand accounts of the attacks, and join us this September 11th as we mark the 23rd anniversary of the day that changed our world forever with #students and #teachers from around the world. Register for free: https://ow.ly/kUzK50T7qGS #911MuseumEd

The #911Memorial & Museum is proud to present "Echoes of Service," a film that captures the remarkable journeys of individuals whose lives were forever changed by the events of 9/11 and 9/12. These everyday heroes turned their grief and resolve into a lifelong commitment to service and giving back, embodying the true spirit of resilience and unity. Through their powerful stories, we aim to inspire the next generation to carry forward this legacy of service and remembrance. Let their actions motivate you to make a difference in your community and continue the spirit of hope and humanity. Join us in honoring those who serve and in nurturing a future filled with compassion, courage, and a deep sense of responsibility to one another. To learn more about the 9/11 Memorial & Museum Visionary Network: https://ow.ly/HeON50T4jCi

Bridget Gormley, a Brooklyn 5th grader on 9/11, recalls the unsettling smell of smoke in the classroom before learning that her father, a New York City firefighter, was responding to the World Trade Center attacks. William “Billy” Gormley worked tirelessly in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero, which ultimately took a toll on his health. Sixteen years after the attacks, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer caused by exposure to toxic chemicals at the site and ultimately leading to his death. Bridget now dedicates her life to preserving her father's legacy and raising awareness of the ongoing health crisis faced by 9/11 survivors. Through her documentary "DUST," she highlights the enduring impact of 9/11 on the lives of those who continue to suffer from its deadly legacy. To learn more about the long-term health effects of the toxic dust that covered city streets and infiltrated homes, businesses, and schools, visit our newest installation, "Dust: Illness and Advocacy After 9/11." Access to this installation is included with your #911Museum ticket: https://ow.ly/H1BT50SWMNG

On 9/11, New York Waterway Captain Richard Thornton was part of the largest maritime evacuation in American history, rescuing between 300K and 500K people by water in less than nine hours. Thornton recounts this unprecedented, improvised evacuation in our 2024 #911Memorial & Museum Anniversary Digital Learning Experience. The annual free program centers on a 30-minute film, available on demand, highlighting first-person accounts of the attacks and their aftermath, plus a live chat with #911Museum staff throughout the day. The film will be available beginning Wednesday, September 11. Free registration at: https://ow.ly/ffzQ50SXLjC