Preserving the story of 9/11 | 60 Minutes Archive

Museum Overview - The National September 11th Memorial Museum, located seven stories underground at ground zero in New York City, aims to memorialize the events of 9/11 [2] - The museum project faced challenges including delays, funding battles, and a flood, but the primary challenge is conveying the horror of 9/11 without being unbearable [2] - The museum is located below the memorial plaza, which features two giant cascading pools in the footprints of the World Trade Center towers, surrounded by the names of 2,983 victims [3][4] - The museum is described as a museum in an artifact, emphasizing the sacredness of the location where the buildings collapsed [6] Content and Exhibits - The museum begins with the voices of people from around the world, remembering where they were when they heard about the attack, acknowledging the global impact of 9/11 [9] - Key artifacts include the "survivor staircase" and the "last column," remnants of the towers, around which the museum was built [11] - The museum includes a large projection showing the morning of 9/11, including the flight paths of the four planes [12] - Voicemail messages left by passengers and victims will be included with family permission, recognizing the emotional power of the human voice [13][14] Sensitive Content and Family Perspectives - The inclusion of images of people jumping from the towers was a sensitive issue, debated internally, with the decision to include an exhibit in an alcove with clear warnings [16][18][19] - The "heart of the museum" is a space devoted to honoring the victims with photographs lining the walls, representing nearly 3,000 faces from over 90 countries [19][20][21] - The museum acknowledges the diverse perspectives of the families of the victims, with varying opinions on what should be included, such as images of the perpetrators [25][26][27] Educational Goals - The museum aims to educate future generations about the events of 9/11, as many young people will not have firsthand memories of the event [29][30] - The museum also wants to showcase stories of heroism, selflessness, and unity following the attacks, including tributes to recovery workers and volunteers [28]