9/11 Memorial Museum
9/11 Memorial Museum
“Objects are always targets for feelings and actions; their interpretation is embedded in already existing experience and knowledge” (Hooper- Greenhill 2000:104).
I visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York with my daughters (11 & 19 years old). I was curious to visit the newly opened 9/11 memorial museum and explore ways in which the objects on display enable us to understand a sensitive history.
History 9/11
As a former Holocaust educator, I am familiar with the complexities involved in addressing sensitive histories which can often trigger strong feeling for people of all ages. Knowledge and understanding are necessary to contextualise such areas but I wondered how to explain the history of the World Trade Centre, what happened on 9/11 and how the site is being rebuilt to my 11 year old daughter without eroding her optimistic world view.
In preparation for our visit, I downloaded the museum guide for visitors with children which provided excellent age-appropriate questions to discuss with children as well as tips for talking to children about 9/11. Common questions encourages adults to discuss complex issues and engage with looking at artefacts with children. Through taking time to discover the stories behind the regular “stuff of life” on 9/11, the ordinary transforms to extraordinary powerful museum artefacts, through which the full story of 9/11 unfolds. Ordinary objects take on subtly different meanings, revealing a sub text of uncomfortable truths. The ‘stuff’ of our world, a child’s shoe, a recorded answer machine message, a fireman’s helmet, reveal a story of mass destruction with nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11th, 2001. People from more than 90 nations died during this tragic event.
The guide refers to the terrorists in an understated tone which is also reflected in the museum. A careful and cautious tone is taken and there is no detailed interpretation regarding Middle Eastern politics.
The hijackers were terrorists…They belonged to a terrorist group called al-Qaeda…[They] hoped that by attacking important buildings… and hurting many people they would force the United States into changing foreign policy, especially in the Middle East.
There is significant scope to discuss complex issues in more depth. It feels a little superficial and I would be interested to discover more about ways museums address similar difficult issues over for museum visitors (Museums, Prejudice and the Reframing of Difference, by Routledge in 2007).
Similarly understated, this brick, taken from Osama Bin Laden’s hideout in Pakistan, is the only object in the main museum that refers to the terrorists.
The museum is thoughtfully presented. It is underground so that visitors see the footprint of the Twin Towers and walk around the perimeter of the site during the visit. Reference is made to the architecture of the Twin Towers such as the slurry wall, tridents and footprint. The role of volunteers and rescue workers is also a key theme. For me, the strengths of a community united by tragedy coming together to support each other conveyed both a powerful and terrifying message.
Every object tells a powerful story, so I’ll highlight just a few here that we all found profoundly moving.
A projected wall of posters seeking for loved ones following the attack shows how people of all ages, colour, faiths and nationalities died in the attack.
Section of steel facade, North Tower, floors 96-99
We felt emotional on seeing a piece of steel, once part of the north facade of the North Tower. This was located at the point of impact where hijacked flight 11 pierced the building through to the 99th floor. We were also moved by the tridents which formed part of the exterior of the North Tower. They are called tridents as they fork into three columns near the top, like the ancient god Neptune’s trident.
The words’ 2SAVE’ are sprayed in bright red paint written on the structures that stood side by side at the bottom of the Twin Towers, as people had the vision to keep and save them for a possible museum.
Segments of the Radio and Television Antenna
This is what remains of the 360-foot antenna that once sat on top of the North Tower. The image here shows where it once stood. It broadcast radio and Television signals over New York. When the tower collapsed on 9/11, they had to use other antennas in the area to let people know what was happening.
Ladder Company 3 Fire Truck
This helmet belonged to Ladder Company 3’s captain, Patrick John Brown (Paddy) who died on 9/11. This helmet is displayed next to the fire truck. It was found in the trunk of his car and his rank can be seen on it. His company were first responders who rushed to the scene to help those inside the burning towers. Many of them died when the towers collapsed on them.
Last Column
A digital display enables visitors to look at sections of the last column. It is decorated with messages and victims’ names. Over time, family members of those who died and others added their own poignant messages. This was the last column to be removed form the site Ground Zero. Recovery workers worked for nine months 24 hours a day to clear the site. This now symbolises the dignity, community and spirit, a positive outcome from the tragedy of 9/11
Watch the film about The Last Column
Survivors’ Stairs
The stairs are a strong symbol of hope as many people escaped down these 38 stairs to safety as they were led out of the World Trade Centre Plaza by first responders to the street below.
Please touch
Visitors are invited to touch this piece of steel. It is a visual symbol of the destructive power of the impact of the terrorists of 9/11.
Historical exhibition September 11, 2001
The exhibition may not be appropriate for visitors 10 years and younger. It addresses terrorism, personal stories, recordings from the flights, film footage of first responders travelling to the site. It was very intense and moving and we went to stand in front of a powerful memorial/installation surrounded with the following words
“No day shall erase you from the memory of time” Virgil
The installation, designed by artist Spencer Finch, is called “Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That Tuesday Morning.” He painted 2,983 watercolours to represent each of the victims of the attacks, each unique, just like the people who were taken too soon.
Say a prayer together
We all felt that the objects on display really engaged us with the historical narrative of 9/11. It stimulated us to discuss complex and challenging moral questions. Can the everyday ‘stuff of life’ have the ability to make history come alive? Do ordinary objects have ‘a story to tell if we’re able to listen’ (Shuh in Hooper-Greenhill 1999: 89) and if so, how do they speak to us? Can objects trigger a moral response, enabling us to question the actions, values and choices we make, their, ‘limits and possibilities, and about the crises that characterise our world’ (Ibid, p.89).
Children’s thoughts
Sad, a good tour, interesting
A bit long