Commemorating the 24th Anniversary of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks
Thursday is the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks happened 24 years ago, and for many people, the attacks were the biggest news story of their lifetime. As we commemorate the anniversary, commonly known as 9/11, we remember the lives lost and the lasting effects it made on our country. Almost all who experienced it can remember where they were when they heard of the attacks.
The Global Response in Headlines
The day after, newspapers around the world captured the sadness, shock, and horror people felt. Many people who remember that day also recall the following morning, when newspapers captured the impact the attacks had on the American psyche. The Newseum, once a museum in Washington, DC, that chronicled the history of media, archived more than 100 newspapers from September 12, 2001, the day after the attacks. These front pages bore powerful headlines such as:
- "ACT OF WAR"
- "AMERICA'S DARKEST DAY"
A Story of Survival: Suzanne DeStefano
Individual accounts provide a personal perspective on the tragedy. Suzanne DeStefano was driving to her new job as a kindergarten teacher in California when she heard the news on the radio. Within a year prior to this, the company she worked for had relocated her to their offices in New York City in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. “I was a Trade Credit and Political Risk Consultant,” she said. “I had a little office with a window that looked out on the Statue of Liberty and a view of the whole city.”
Regarding her departure from the towers, she noted, “July 11th, 2001, was my last day working in the Trade Center, and then I got married on August 11th, 2001.” It was exactly one month later that American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center between the 93rd and 99th floors. Suzanne recalled, “Everybody that I worked with on that floor – my whole team, my secretary, my boss, and everybody that had offices around me perished that day.” After the attacks, she realized that teaching saved her life.
Preserving History at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers the opportunity to share in a commitment to commemorate the victims and honor the courage of the first responders. Through a host of online resources, the museum helps the public learn about the attacks and their aftermath. The following data highlights the scale of the museum's collection and its preservation efforts:
| Resource Category | Details and Scope |
|---|---|
| Museum Collection | The collection houses more than 71,000 items, including three-dimensional objects, ephemera, textiles, and artwork. |
| Oral Histories | Recorded interviews that tell the story of 9/11 through first-person accounts. |
| Digital Archives | Searchable Digital Learning Experience archives and interactive timelines of the attacks. |
| Media Archives | More than 100 international front pages from September 12, 2001, archived to show the global reaction. |
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, people around the United States and the world struggled with how to comprehend the tragedy. From handwritten notes on scraps of paper to massive beams of World Trade Center steel, each item in the Museum's collection has a unique story to contribute to the narrative of 9/11. Many turned to artmaking to honor the victims, and today, a gallery showcases sculpture, painting, video, drawing, and collage works that offer a lens through which to interpret the events.
The Hunt for Bin Laden and Educational Outreach
The museum also provides supporting lesson plans that explore what the U.S. government knew about Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda in the years prior to the 9/11 attacks. This online collection of stories was adapted from the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s special exhibition Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden. You can explore past programs and learn more about the continuing impact of 9/11 on the world today with the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s archive of public programs.