New York City’s 9/11 Tribute Museum, a memorial for those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, was closed Wednesday due to funding shortages and dramatic declines in visitor numbers.
The museum was hanging on to the center for many years. But the COVID-19 pandemic ended that dream. It now exists online only. The museum’s exhibits will be moved to Albany’s New York State Museum.
“Financial hardship including lost revenue caused by the pandemic prevents us from generating sufficient funding to continue to operate the physical museum,” said Jennifer Adams, co-founder and CEO of the 9/11 Tribute Museum.
The repository evolved from a humble beginning in a former deli just steps away from Ground Zero, where survivors gathered to commemorate the place where two hijacked jetliners flew into the twin towers of the World Trade Center.
Although the site was filled with twisted metal and smoke, thousands of people were already there to witness its destruction.
Over five million people visited the 9/11 Tribute Museum over the 16 years that it was open. It offered guided tours of Ground Zero for years. They were led by the families of those who lost loved ones in the worst terrorist attack in American history.
The center featured items from the wreckage, including contorted beams, ravaged turnout jackets, and helmets worn in firefighter uniforms.
It offered private rooms that allowed families of the deceased to meet and grieve in peace, as well as a place for them to leave mementos of their loved ones.
Despite receiving grants, the facility survived largely on donations and admissions.
When the National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened in 2011, the smaller memorial saw a dramatic reduction in visitors. The 9/11 Tribute Museum saw an increase in visitors over the next years. But then, the coronavirus epidemic struck and it had devastating consequences for travel and tourism.