Press Release

"A Global Moment" - The National WWII Museum to Host Major 9/11 Exhibition

Exhibition runs March 15 through May 20, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (February 15, 2012) — A major traveling exhibition, organized by the New York State Museum, exploring the personal and historical significance of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, will open at The National WWII Museum on March 15. RBC Wealth Management is the sponsor of the national tour.

The exhibition, A Global Moment: September 11, 2001, features rare artifacts recovered from the World Trade Center (WTC), United Airlines Flight 93 and the Pentagon as well as a timeline that traces events of the day. It also will include personal stories, objects, images and a film about everyday life at the World Trade Center. It tracks the moments of the attacks on September 11, 2001 and the aftermath. The exhibition’s goal is to help visitors gain a clearer understanding of the events of September 11, to learn more about the people whose lives were lost, and to provide visitors with a platform to share their experiences relating to the tragedy.

“Americans often compare the events of September 11, 2001 to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 — both were dark days, and instantly unified the people of our nation,” said Museum President and CEO Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller. “It is our mission at The National World War II Museum to tell the story of America’s involvement in WWII, but also to explore and interpret how that connects with recent significant events in our history.”

A Global Moment will include over 50 photographs, and more than 75 artifacts from the WTC towers, selected from the State Museum’s collections. The exhibition will include personal objects linked to several individuals who perished or survived, and expressions of sympathy from New Yorkers, such as the Union Square scrolls and posters of missing persons.

The exhibition is divided into themed sections. The introduction focuses on world events leading up to the September 11attacks. Visitors will see a detailed timeline, with images, text and artifacts designed to help them understand the sequence of terrorist activity during the decade preceding the attacks. The timeline then explains how September 11 unfolded—the timing of the attacks, evacuations and collapse of the towers. Objects will include an American flag recovered from Ground Zero, building fragments from the towers, elevator signs, keys, airplane pieces, a seatbelt from one of the airliners, and WTC souvenirs.

The next section of the exhibition deals with the aftermath of September 11 and the intensive rescue operations of the following days. Personal stories of heroism, loss and survival are told and accompanied by objects belonging to those profiled. Missing posters from September 11, biographies of several 9/11 victims and survivors will help to put a human face on the tragedy. Here the viewer will find detailed information about nine people--some of whom perished, and others who survived the attacks.

A Response and Recovery section chronicles worldwide reaction to the September 11 attacks on America. Featured objects include a memorial banner, part of a fence filled with memorial material that surrounded Union Square in New York City, a painting by Italian artist Piero Capobianco, and an Afghan prayer rug with an image of the Twin Towers. This section also includes images and artifacts from Ground Zero and the WTC recovery operation at a former landfill on Staten Island. The exhibition shows the extent of this historic and humanitarian operation that was designed to find remains of every person lost, and their personal possessions.

Formed in 1836, the New York State Museum is the largest and oldest state museum in the United States. With more than 10 million objects in its collections, the Museum is the country’s largest repository of material from the World Trade Center and the response to September 11, 2001. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, N.Y., the Museum is a program of the State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information is available by calling 518-474-0080 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world — why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and designated by Congress as America’s National WWII Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-527-6012 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org. Follow us on Twitter at WWIImuseum or visit our Facebook fan page.