On September 11, 2002, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History opened a new exhibition to commemorate the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America. September 11: Bearing Witness to History presented a compelling selection of objects, images, and personal stories from that unforgettable day. Visitors were invited to share their own stories and reflect on how September 11 has affected their lives.

The exhibition closed at the Museum on July 6, 2003. During its ten-month run, it attracted over a million visitors from across the nation and around the world. Thousands of stories were collected and added to the September 11 Digital Archive.


From September 2003 to January 2006, September 11: Bearing Witness to History toured the country as a traveling exhibition managed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The tour is now complete and the exhibition is permanently closed. For more information, visit the SITES Web site.