In the heart of lower Manhattan, just two blocks from where the Twin Towers stood tall, was the 9/11 tribute museum. Now closed just weeks before the 21st anniversary of the attack, the tribute museum is not set to reopen anytime soon.
Last Wednesday, the Tribute Museum officially closed its doors due to extreme financial hardship following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, entry data analyzed by the 9/11 Tribute Museum showed an 83% decrease in visitation from 2019. Despite an uptick in numbers throughout 2022, the museum was unable to make up enough income to stay open.
“The responsible thing is close, unfortunately.” Jennifer Webb-Adams, cofounder of the museum and CEO of The September 11th Families’ Association told the Wall Street Journal.
Not to be confused with the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Tribute Museum was a personal and communicative experience for those who visited. It offered the opportunity for survivors and family members of victims to tell their stories and educate the public. With a staff of 10, the museum relied on its 300-person volunteer team and over 1,000 survivors, first-responders and family members who made the experience so special.
“I hope they take solace in the fact that their personal emotions will be online and, hopefully, remembered forever,” said retired NYPD Detective Squad Commander, first responder of 9/11, and Hauppauge local, Greg Kelly.
The first generation that did not live through 9/11 will now visit the 9/11 Tribute Museum in a way they know best: digitally. Following the museum’s closing, the official website will now set the stage for those telling their remarkable and resilient stories. “Digitally, it will be able to reach more people worldwide, which is a good thing,” Kelly stated.
The plans to transition into a digital education resource will offer millions more the opportunity to learn the personal stories the Tribute Museum provides, which, as Kelly notes, is a positive outcome of an upsetting situation.
“Any time we close a museum, take down a monument, or alter a historical site, we run the risk of future generations not being able to gain knowledge,” Kelly remarked.
9/11 Tribute Museum has started a petition hosted by Change.org in order to push the city and state to financially help the museum’s burden. Of a 50,000-signature goal, the petition has earned over 37,000 in the months it has been up. Though some politicians of New York have promised to help the 9/11 tribute museum, that help has yet to come forward.
The petition was created to put public pressure on the government officials who have the power to save the 9/11 Tribute Museum. You can sign or donate to the 9/11 Tribute Museum via the change. org petition, or through their website www.911tributemuseum.org.
We at The Messenger support all first-responders, survivors, and loved ones of 9/11 victims for their constant courage. We also thank everyone who has helped continue the education and remembrance of the tragedy that was 9/11.
“People have put a lot of their time and effort into [the 9/11 Tribute Museum],” Kelly concludes. “I hope they realize that their efforts are greatly appreciated.”
