9/11 Museum Workshop: 100 Images & Artifacts Exhibit — Attraction in New York

This was the highlight of my 88 year old mother’s and my trip to NYC. The experience is highly emotional but is done in the most respectful, authentic manner. My dear friend who lost her first responder husband (with triplet toddlers at the time) said she finds this to be a beautiful tribute and historical masterpiece. If SHE approves, I feel there is no higher seal of approval. To me, the art is not meant to be gruesome sensationalism, but rather a sober understanding of the magnitude of 9-11 with a clear sense of how many people rushed to try to help. It let me shed tears and feel tremendous sorrow, yet it also gave me an overwhelming feeling of finding some sense of healing. I felt enormous pride, gratitude and brother/sisterhood with the countless documented pictures and stories about acts of heroism and also about the genuine shared grief that tragically but also lovingly connects so many people. This will be a life changing visit for anyone who visits the museum. The gift shop has many beautiful keepsakes at all price ranges. I didn’t want a souvenir like that I might purchase at an amusement park. But I wanted something to bring home to remember my visit and to continue to feel connected to everyone who was touched by 9-11. The manager of the gift shop went above and beyond to personally help me locate a particular item I wanted. It was not even an expensive item AT ALL and yet he treated my elderly mother and me with welcome and appreciation as if we were making a million dollar purchase or donation. You will be profoundly moved and so grateful for the experience of visiting Ground Zero...

At first I was afraid that this would be one of those disrespectful tourist traps about September 11th, but given the many good reviews, I decided to take a look.

The Ground Zero Museum Workshop is a collection of artifacts and many pictures about the recovery in the months following September 11th. It is primarily the work of Gary Marlon Suson, the only official photographer who was allowed to photograph at Ground Zero. He had exclusive rights to take up-close pictures during the recovery (with no pay), and as a result had a very moving collection of pictures.

This Museum/Workshop is not touristy at all. In fact, they only let some 20 people into the room during a given tour, and if you wouldn't know where to find it, you probably won't even notice it at street level (you actually have to ring a bell for them to let you walk up).

The tour starts out with a short documentary about the photographer and how he got access to the site and how he didn't publish the pictures until years later. After the video, the tour guide highlights some of the most important/popular artifacts, and then you are on your own exploring the artifacts (that you are encouraged to touch and inspect). Equipped with an audio guide you can also get an explanation (by the photographer) about each picture.

All in all, it's a moving tribute, and you'll learn much more about the impact of 9/11, than if you were to just visit the World Trade Center Memorial (that is until that museum there...

This museum dedicated to the 911 attacks might be the best privately curated museum I've toured in years. The man that owns and operates this Gary and he comes to this from an amazing perspective. He was the photographer given all access and permission to shoot photographs within ground zero. He was right down in the mud during the investigation, remains recovery and salvage operations. He has in depth and personal knowledge of the situation very few people had or ever will have. He was eve made an honorary battalion chief by FDNY. He has artifacts rarely seen anyplace else and many of them you can actually touch. Gary is there, in person while you tour his museum. He gives you an audio guide that is simple and easy to use. That guide gives you personal and in depth info on every artifact and every photograph. All narrated, personally, by him. So much of the info and details brings up really strong emotions as he doesn't sugar coat anything. The feelings and information is direct and honest. It's a very emotional tour. Gary feels a personal responsibility to tell this story as fate put him and his camera in a unique place, at a unique time. If you want to experience a very personal narration of this tragedy and American history, I highly recommend this tour. I left this museum was a far deeper understanding of the impact on the lives, people and families of those lost on that faithful morning. Thank you so much Gary for what you have done and...