9/11 Tribute Museum
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Museum, Education |
| Founded | September 6, 2006 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | New York City |
| Products | Walking tours, exhibit galleries, educational programming |
Number of employees | 900 (volunteer guides) (2022) |
| Website | tribute |
The 9/11 Tribute Museum, previously known as the 9/11 Tribute Center and Tribute WTC, presented firsthand accounts from survivors, family members of those who perished, rescue and recovery personnel, volunteers, and residents of Lower Manhattan regarding the September 11 attacks. Situated in the Financial District of Manhattan, it featured walking tours and exhibit galleries showcasing artifacts and historical information related to 9/11 before shifting exclusively to an online format in August 2022.
Organization
Operating as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the 9/11 Tribute Museum was an initiative of the September ' Association. Unlike the larger National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which centers on those who lost their lives, Tribute focused on the experiences of survivors.
The institution offered educational programming and acted as a communal platform where families and friends of victims could publicly share their narratives.
Without an endowment, the museum primarily depended on revenue generated from admissions to sustain its activities.
History
The 9/11 Tribute Museum—originally called the 9/11 Tribute Center and Tribute WTC Visitor Center—was established by the September ’ Association, created by relatives and widows of 9/11 victims. The Association’s purpose is to connect and assist terrorism victims through communication, advocacy, and peer support.
Opening its doors on September 6, 2006, near the World Trade Center site, it occupied the former Liberty Deli location, which had previously served rescue workers in the aftermath of the attacks. This venue was transformed into an educational facility featuring photographs, artifacts, and stories from the community. In June 2017, the museum moved to a larger space at 92 Greenwich Street to accommodate expanded exhibits.
Though it was the earliest to open among New York City’s 9/11 museums, Tribute remained smaller in scale compared to others. In November 2019, its landlord Thor Equities put 92 Greenwich Street up for sale, jeopardizing the museum’s premises. The decline in tourism caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to an announcement in March 2022 that the museum would close its physical location. The site officially closed on August 17, 2022, with all displays moving to an online platform. Throughout its tenure, the museum hosted approximately five million visitors and facilitated around 500,000 guided tours.
Tours
The museum engaged about 900 volunteer guides who underwent specialized training; many had personal ties to the events of 9/11, including volunteers traveling from as far as Northern Virginia. Guided tours took participants through the 9/11 Memorial Plaza, emphasizing significant landmarks such as the Firefighters' Memorial Wall and the Survivor Tree. These guided experiences were discontinued following the closure of the physical museum on August 17, 2022.
See also
- Construction of the World Trade Center
- World Trade Center (1973–2001)
- Memorials and services for the September 11 attacks
External links
- , 9/11 Tribute Museum
- , September Association