The National September 11 Collection

The collections we present on this site represent a work in progress. Early collections embody the best efforts of staff across the National Museum of American History to document and preserve a wide range of stories about September 11. Recent collecting efforts have integrated a more collaborative community-based approach to find underrepresented and unknown stories. Each object, as material evidence of the attacks and their immediate aftermath, is a piece of a large and complex story. The collections will grow as we gain historical perspective and a greater understanding of the events of September 11.
La Colección Nacional 11 de Septiembre
La colección que presentamos en este sitio es una obra en progreso. Las primeras recopilaciones plasman los mejores esfuerzos del personal del Museo Nacional de Historia Americana por documentar y preservar una amplia gama de relatos acerca del 11 de septiembre. Los esfuerzos de colección recientes han integrado un enfoque más colaborativo, de base comunitaria, en busca de historias desconocidas o poco representadas. Cada objeto, como evidencia material de los ataques y su secuela inmediata, es un pedazo de una historia larga y compleja. Las colecciones crecerán a medida que ampliemos la perspectiva histórica y la comprensión de los eventos.


-
Ironworker's Face Shield
- Description (Brief)
- This face shield was used by ironworker James A. Connor on the World Trade Center rescue, recovery, and removal job. Mr. Connor participated in the search-and-rescue effort and helped clear debris from the World Trade Center site from September 12, 2001 to January 2002. Mr. Connor was an ironworker from New York’s Local 40 Ironworkers Union who had been working on the Williamsburg Bridge renovation when the attack occurred.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2002.0054.12
- accession number
- 2002.0054
- catalog number
- 2002.0054.12
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Computer Keyboard
- Description (Brief)
- This computer keyboard, serial number AP42436B26FA, was part of a collection of equipment and possessions recovered from the wreckage of the Pentagon after the September 11 attack.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2002.0279.05
- accession number
- 2002.0279
- serial number
- AP42436B26FA
- catalog number
- 2002.0279.05
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Clothing worn in escape from the Pentagon
- Description
- This material from Jerry Henson, Pentagon survivor, includes his tie, trousers, and ID badge.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2002.0296.03
- accession number
- 2002.0296
- catalog number
- 2002.0296.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Community Remembrance Book
- Description
- Description: This book contains over 300 messages and drawings from the citizens of Mountain View, California.
- Context: Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, people across the nation and around the world sought ways to express their condolences and solidarity. Many communities held candlelight vigils, built memorials, and compiled books of remembrance.
- The city of Mountain View, California, collected thoughts by local residents and drawings by area children. Over 300 of these thoughts were bound into a single volume. The book represents one town’s efforts to cope with the horror of the attack and come closer together as a community.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 2001-2002
- maker
- City of Mountain View
- ID Number
- 2003.0143.01
- accession number
- 2003.0143
- catalog number
- 2003.0143.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Pentagon ID badge
- Description
- Comdr. Dunn used this card to enter the Pentagon and gain access to areas outside the Navy Command Center.
- user
- Dunn, Patrick
- ID Number
- 2004.0141.01
- catalog number
- 2004.0141.01
- accession number
- 2004.0141
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Valpak(?)
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2002.0279.21
- accession number
- 2002.0279
- catalog number
- 2002.0279.21
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Port Authority Police Uniform Shirt
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2003.0145.02
- accession number
- 2003.0145
- catalog number
- 2003.0145.02.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Athletic Center card
- Description
- This card was used by Comdr. Dunn to access the Pentagon athletic center. Physical fitness is very important to a fighting force; every member of the military must pass a rigorous physical exam twice a year. Military personnel are required to maintain a high level of physical training, or "PT." Visits to the gym also provide stress relief and an opportunity to interact with friends and colleagues.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- user
- Dunn, Patrick
- ID Number
- 2004.0141.03
- accession number
- 2004.0141
- catalog number
- 2004.0141.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Ring of Keys, World Trade Center
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2004.0203.02
- accession number
- 2004.0203
- catalog number
- 2004.0203.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Leslie Whittington Engagement Ring
- Location
- Currently on loan
- Date made
- 1984
- ID Number
- 2005.0020.01
- accession number
- 2005.0020
- catalog number
- 2005.0020.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
World Trade Center ID Card
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Motorola Inc.
- ID Number
- 2002.0059.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Squeegee Handle
- Description
- Description: Jan Demczur, a window washer at the World Trade Center, used this brass Ettore Corp. squeegee handle (now missing its brass channel and rubber blade) to escape from an elevator on September 11.
- Context: When a hijacked airplane struck the north tower of the World Trade Center, six men, including Polish immigrant window washer Jan Demczur, found themselves trapped in an express elevator at the 50th floor. Thinking quickly, Demczur and the others pried open the elevator doors and used this squeegee handle to cut their way through the drywall of the elevator shaft. They squeezed through the hole in the wall, fleeing from the building just minutes before the tower fell.
- Location
- Currently on loan
- Date made
- 1990s
- maker
- Ettore Products Co.
- ID Number
- 2002.0018.01
- accession number
- 2002.0018
- catalog number
- 2002.0018.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
9/11 Police Baton
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2002.0238.14
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Limestone exterior fragment from Pentagon
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Indiana Limestone Company
- ID Number
- 2002.3082.01
- nonaccession number
- 2002.3082
- catalog number
- 2002.3082.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Locator Map from the Pentagon
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2002.3083.01
- nonaccession number
- 2002.3083
- catalog number
- 2002.3083.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Flight 93 Seat Belt Buckle
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2004.0142.14
- accession number
- 2004.0142
- catalog number
- 2004.0142.14
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Burned Blockbuster Rental Card
- Description (Brief)
- Badly burned Blockbuster movie rental card. Recovered from the wreckage of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, PA on September 11, 2001.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Blockbuster Inc.
- ID Number
- 2004.0142.01
- accession number
- 2004.0142
- catalog number
- 2004.0142.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Flight 93 GTE Airfone
- maker
- GTE
- ID Number
- 2004.0142.19
- accession number
- 2004.0142
- catalog number
- 2004.0142.19
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Wallet, Terry McCormick
- Description
- Description: This wallet complete with its contents was found in the debris pile of the World Trade Center.
- Context: When terrorists crashed an airliner into the World Trade Center, many people evacuated quickly. In his haste to leave his 32nd-floor office in the north tower, Terrence McCormick, Branch Marketing Director for Kemper Insurance, left behind his suit jacket with his wallet. After a harrowing descent down the stairs and getting covered by dust from the collapse of the south tower, McCormick walked seven miles through Brooklyn to a point where he could catch a bus home. Some days later, the police discovered his wallet in the debris and returned it to Mr. McCormick.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2002.0058.01
- accession number
- 2002.0058
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Joseph Pfeifer's Bunker Coat
- Description (Brief)
- This is the bunker coat worn by FDNY Battalion Chief Joseph W. Pfeifer on September 11, 2001 during the attack on the World Trade Center. It is black with yellow reflecting tape on the bottom of jacket as well as at cuffs and neck. "FDNY BATT CHIEF PFEIFER" is sewn on to the back of the jacket in white reflective tape. There are metal clasps and Velcro fasteners down the front and on the sleeves. Engine Seven, Ladder One was one of the first fire-and-rescue units to arrive at the World Trade Center, and was led by Battalion Chief Pfeifer.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- battalion chief fdny
- Pfeifer, Joseph
- maker
- Morning Pride Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 2002.0255.01
- accession number
- 2002.0255
- catalog number
- 2002.0255.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Pages
Filter Your Results
Click to remove a filter:
- data source
-
topic
- September 11 360
- September 11 Terrorist Attacks 360
- September 11th Attacks 357
- Attack on the World Trade Center 159
- Attack on the Pentagon 94
- Attack on United Airlines Flight 93 53
- Transportation 9
- Air Travel 8
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 6
- Federal Air Marshall Service (FAMS) 3
- Terrorism 2
- Architecture 1
- Clothing and dress 1
- Dress accessories 1
- Engineering 1
- Government 1
- National Treasures exhibit 1
- Politics 1
- Social reformers 1
-
object type
- label 10
- page, procedure manual 9
- Identification Card 7
- Jackets (garments) 7
- Menu 6
- Posters 6
- Trousers 6
- seat belt 6
- Caps (headgear) 5
- Coins (money) 5
- Flags 5
- Signs (declaratory or advertising artifacts) 5
- Badges 4
- Floor indicator 4
- ID Badge 4
- Medallions (medals) 4
- Piece of Fuselage 4
- Seat Belt 4
- Shirts 4
- Banners 3
- date
-
place
- United States 312
- New York 160
- World Trade Center 159
- Manhattan 153
- Virginia 96
- Pentagon 94
- Pennsylvania 53
- Shanksville 53
- Fresh Kills 27
- Manhattan Island 7
- Arlington 1
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 1
- Grand Forks 1
- Haiti 1
- Maryland 1
- North Dakota 1
- Seattle 1
- Washington 1
- Washington Dulles International Airport 1
- culture
-
set name
- Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, 9/11 355
- Transportation 9
- National Museum of American History 3
- Price of Freedom 3
- Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, General 2
- : Armed Forces History, 9/11 1
- Clothing & Accessories 1
- Engineering, Building, and Architecture 1
- Government, Politics, and Reform 1
- National Treasures exhibit 1