In a year in which a number of stadiums, arenas, museums and other venues are celebrating milestone anniversaries, none has been more poignant than the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum marking its 10th year. It’s one of those places that you wish didn’t exist, but you recognize upon attendance the care, thought, craftsmanship and respect that went into realizing one of New York City’s most impressive and necessary landmarks.
Noah Rauch
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum was dedicated on May 15, 2014, in a ceremony attended by then-President Obama who declared the site to be "a monument to the enduring memory of those lost 13 years ago in the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil — and to the spirit of the nation," according to Time Magazine.
Today, one of the key figures guiding the venue’s continued operations is Noah Rauch, Senior Vice President, Education & Public Programs at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. He says, “The museum has marked the anniversary by continuing to expand our programs, exhibitions and audiences. For example, we have opened a new installation, ‘Dust: Illness and Advocacy After 9/11,’ that explores the scale of the 9/11-related health effects faced by those who lived and worked in and around the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero, and their advocacy efforts to gain the support they needed. This is a story that we tell extensively in the museum, and we were excited to further emphasize it to visitors.”
In addition, Rauch and his fellow staffers have launched New York First Mondays, which provides a dedicated opportunity for New Yorkers to visit the museum with each other. “This program will continue to evolve as we meet the needs of our local audience,” he states.
By official accounts, the museum’s collection includes more than 40,000 images, approximately 14,000 artifacts, over 3,500 oral recordings and some 500 hours of video. Since its opening, it has welcomed over 24 million visitors. Rauch says, “These visitors come to better understand what happened on 9/11 and its ongoing legacy today, and I believe our greatest impact has been conveying this history in ways that deeply connect to the next generation and diverse visitors from around the world. The museum is about the human experience of an historical event. We try to underscore that this happened to regular people, and that regular people stepped forward in extraordinary ways under unimaginable circumstances. The lessons and examples that come out of 9/11 are as resonant now as ever, and I see our impact only growing."
The events of Sept. 11, 2001, now firmly belong to history. Plenty of people visit who weren't even born when the towers fell or who were very young and have only vague memories of that day or no memories at all. But the immediacy of it being only 23 years ago and the repercussions the attacks have had on our world are part of their legacy, too. How has the museum pivoted over the years to cater and, for lack of a better word, appeal to them?
Rauch answers, “The 9/11 Museum is as much about ‘9/12’ as it is about 9/11. Highlighting how individuals and communities responded and how the attacks continue to resonate today has always been at the core of our programming. Whether on our public tours, in our student field trips, our public programs, or our professional training programs, we are constantly exploring the legacy of the attacks and their resonance today."
He continues, “One example is our increasing focus on the health effects faced by those who worked in the rescue and recovery efforts and who lived and worked near the site. Thousands have died and tens of thousands are sick from 9/11-related illnesses, and we have made extensive efforts to educate our visitors about this issue.”
Working at the site day in and day out, is there an exhibit or a part of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum that still "gets” Rauch, that he still finds particularly touching or emotional? “That’s a hard question — so much of the museum continues to affect me,” he says. ‘In Memoriam,’ the exhibition dedicated to honoring and remembering the victims of the attacks, is incredibly moving. In the exhibition, a floor-to-ceiling presentation of 2,983 portrait photographs line the walls, presenting a true cross-section of humanity, ages two and a half to 85, from more than 90 nations, spanning the spectrum of ethnicities, socioeconomic sectors and faith traditions.”
He adds, “In the gallery’s inner chamber, profiles of victims are projected onto the walls of this room along with personal photographs and recorded remembrances left by family members, friends and former colleagues. Hearing those remembrances is profoundly poignant. Some are funny, some are serious, but all highlight the lives of these individuals in ways that only deepen my connection to them.”
From a ticketing standpoint, general admission prices are $33 per person, with discounts for seniors aged 65 and over and adolescents 13 to 17 ($27 each) and youth 7 to 12 ($21). Children 6 and under are free. “We offer special discounted rates for groups of 20 and more,” Rauch adds. “Rates vary depending on the type of groups — schools, self-organized, tour operators, etc. Reservations are required in advance for group visits to help manage crowd flow and ensure an optimal experience. Groups are welcome to choose specific timeslots to align with their schedules.”
There are also VIP and premium packages that range from early access tours so visitors can explore the museum before it opens to private guided tours. The latter are tailored tours that offer groups and individuals a more in-depth experience with a dedicated guide.
So, how does Rauch foresee the 9/11 Memorial & Museum evolving in the years to come? He was thoughtful in his answer: “There are so many stories to tell that are connected to 9/11 — of service, selflessness and resilience — and we look forward to telling them in new programs, tours and exhibitions that reflect the evolving legacy of the attacks. Lots to come!”
Leading image courtesy of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
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