Port Authority Concludes Program to Distribute 9/11 World Trade Artifacts

On Aug 11, 2016

The Port Authority announced today the successful conclusion of its 9/11 World Trade Center artifacts giveaway program, following the distribution of more than 2,600 pieces of steel and other items to communities in all 50 states and 10 foreign nations during the past six years.

The distribution program began in 2010 as a way for the agency to find permanent homes for the pieces of building steel, vehicles, PATH cars and other objects it recovered from the World Trade Center site days after the 9/11 attacks.  Since 2002, the items were stored and preserved in a hangar at John F. Kennedy International Airport under the guidance of Port Authority consultant Art Preservation Services.

“This highly successful effort has allowed communities throughout the world to keep alive the memory of the heroic acts and ultimate sacrifices made by our police force,  other law enforcement agencies and firefighters who lost their lives that day,” said Port Authority Superintendent of Police Michael Fedorko.  “These artifacts have been treated with dignity and respect and we’re pleased that so many groups came forward to be part of this important program.”

“Each artifact from Hanger 17 is a piece of history that tells a special story about 9/11 such as firefighters and rescuers running into the burning Towers to save those who were in the greatest need,” said Joseph W. Pfeifer, Chief of Counterterrorism and Emergency Preparedness for the FDNY  “The 9/11 steel, whether small or large, represents the 343 firefighters who were lost, as well as all victims of terrorism throughout the world. Not only do these artifacts help us to never forget, but it also represents our hope for an end to terrorism.”

“Through this project, I have met hundreds of people affected by the events of September 11, 2001, bringing both a rewarding but also humbling experience, said Amy Passiak of Art Preservation Services, who served as the curator for the project for the past six years.  “I am thankful to have been involved in the distribution and subsequent public memorials that are now present across the United States and globe. I look forward to continuing the connections that I have made with all those involved in the project, including Port Authority staff, survivors, family members of victims, first responders and recovery workers. I feel that through memorials built with material from this project, I know that still more people will learn about these events, and the legacies of all those involved.”

The majority of the steel pieces and other items were distributed to museums, town governments, schools, non-profit organizations, and community groups including police, fire, law enforcement and emergency response departments.  The recipients were required to commit that the artifacts they received would be used in a public display.

The widely popular program distributed more than 1,890 pieces of steel of varying sizes to communities around the country for use in the creation of permanent memorials to the nearly 3,000 people who were lost on 9/11.  Many of the items recovered also are permanently housed in the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site and in state museums in New York and New Jersey.  In addition, artifacts were distributed to military bases and other locations in nine foreign countries.

In addition to steel pieces, the artifacts distributed included emergency responder vehicles, PATH cars, signs, pieces of the North Tower antenna and items from the retail stories that occupied the World Trade Center plaza prior to the attacks.

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