THE MEMORIAL MISSION

Remember and honor the thousands of innocent men, women, and children murdered by terrorists in the horrific attacks of February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001.

Respect this place made sacred through tragic loss.

Recognize the endurance of those who survived, the courage of those who risked their lives to save others, and the compassion of all who supported us in our darkest hours.

MAY THE LIVES REMEMBERED, THE DEEDS RECOGNIZED, AND THE SPIRIT REAWAKENED BE ETERNAL BEACONS, WHICH REAFFIRM RESPECT FOR LIFE, STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE TO PRESERVE FREEDOM, AND INSPIRE AN END TO HATRED, IGNORANCE AND INTOLERANCE.

THE MEMORIAL MUSEUM MISSION

The National September 11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center bears solemn witness to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. The Museum honors the nearly 3,000 victims of these attacks and all those who risked their lives to save others. It further recognizes the thousands who survived and all who demonstrated extraordinary compassion in the aftermath. Demonstrating the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and its impact on communities at the local, national, and international levels, the Museum attests to the triumph of human dignity over human depravity and affirms an unwavering commitment to the fundamental value of human life.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIRMAN
Michael R. Bloomberg

BOARD MEMBERS
Richard H. Bagger
Virginia S. Bauer
Paula Grant Berry
Frank Bisignano
Debra Burlingame
John P. Cahill
Russell L. Carson
Kenneth I. Chenault
Ric Clark
Keating Crown
Billy Crystal
Robert De Niro
Samuel A. DiPiazza, Jr.
Richard Edelman
Christine A. Ferer
Anne M. Finucane
Jennifer Glick
Maurice R. Greenberg
Dr. Vartan Gregorian
Patricia E. Harris
Lee A. Ielpi
Robert Iger
Monica Iken
Thomas S. Johnson
Robert Kasdin
Anthoula Katsimatides
Peter M. Lehrer
Howard W. Lutnick
Joel S. Marcus
Kevin McCarthy
Julie Menin
Ira M. Millstein
Howard Milstein
Joseph Moinian
Paul Napoli
Emily K. Rafferty
Kevin M. Rampe
Scott Rechler
Thomas H. Rogér
Jane Rosenthal
E. John Rosenwald, Jr.
Avi Schick
Andrew M. Senchak
Jerry I. Speyer
Craig Roberts Stapleton
Jon Stewart
Anne M. Tatlock
Daniel R. Tishman
Seth Waugh
Carl Weisbrod
John E. Zuccotti

HONORARY CHAIRMAN
George E. Pataki
FORMER GOVERNOR, STATE OF NEW YORK

FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
John C. Whitehead
1922-2015

HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS
President George H. W. Bush
41ST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
President George W. Bush
43RD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
President Jimmy Carter
39TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
President William J. Clinton
42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

HONORARY TRUSTEES
Chris Christie
GOVERNOR, STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Jon S. Corzine
FORMER GOVERNOR, STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Andrew M. Cuomo
GOVERNOR, STATE OF NEW YORK
Rudolph W. Giuliani
FORMER MAYOR, CITY OF NEW YORK

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

PRESIDENT & CEO
Alice M. Greenwald

CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
Allison Blais

EXECUTIVE VP FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Cathy Blaney

EXECUTIVE VP AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS
Ernie Blundell

EXECUTIVE VP AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR MUSEUM PROGRAMS
Clifford Chanin

CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER & DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Josh Cherwin

EXECUTIVE VP AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Michael Frazier

GENERAL COUNSEL & BOARD SECRETARY
Noelle Lilien

CHIEF OF STAFF
Benjamin Milakofsky

EXECUTIVE VP, CHIEF FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Marvin Suchoff

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

In the years since the opening of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, nearly 11 million visitors from around the world have come to learn about the history of 9/11 through the museum’s exhibitions and programs and more than 37 million people have come to pay tribute to the victims at the Memorial plaza.

This tremendous response underscores how critical this institution has become to so many people around the world looking to honor, remember, and reflect on that terrible day. And its significance on both local and global scales speaks to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum’s steadfast commitment to honoring the nearly 3,000 innocent people killed on September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993, telling the crucial history of these attacks, and sharing stories of bravery and compassion with people of all backgrounds from around the world.

Over the past year and under the leadership of its new President & CEO, Alice Greenwald, who took the helm this year after serving as Museum Director for a decade, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum has deepened its resolve to further its mission. Memorial and Museum staff have continued working hard to preserve the memories of those who were killed, ensure an exemplary visitor experience, and educate the next generation. Learning and education efforts have been expanded through programming and lectures with leaders across industries, student and teacher curriculum, and special exhibitions. And, along with Board Member Jon Stewart and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, we announced plans for the development of a permanent tribute at the 9/11 Memorial to recognize the dedication, courage, and sacrifice of rescue and recovery workers and to honor all those who are suffering or have died from 9/11-related illnesses.

I sincerely hope that in the upcoming year you will join the millions who have visited and supported this important institution as we continue to honor the memories of those killed and share the stories of hope and resilience. With your support, the Memorial and Museum will continue to be a meaningful national tribute for generations to come.

Sincerely,
Michael R. Bloomberg
Chairman, National September 11 Memorial & Museum

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Sixteen years ago, the unthinkable happened. Wherever we were that September day, we knew that our world and sense of history had been altered. We lost loved ones, friends, and coworkers; we grieved for strangers; we came together to pray and to mourn. We cheered those who met the challenge of rescue and recovery; we affirmed our resilience and resolve; and we chose to commemorate and rebuild. Today, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum sits at the very heart of a revitalized World Trade Center, a “living memorial” inextricably woven into the fabric of our city and our nation.

This is an institution that looks back in order to look forward. Yet, our programmatic focus is very much on the present moment. Too often this year, as our neighborhoods and cities were rocked by unthinkable violence, we were reminded that terrorism has become a fact of life. Such unconscionable acts serve to reinforce the Memorial and Museum’s sacred obligation to remember the nearly 3,000 people killed on 9/11 and to bolster our commitment to being the authoritative source on the history and legacy of 9/11.

As you will see in this year’s Annual Report, we are devoting considerable energy and expertise to critical programs focused on educating at all levels. From elementary school visits to professional development sessions for our teachers, demand for these programs is growing exponentially. Our second annual “Anniversary in the Schools” webinar – a program designed to provide commemorative and historical content for students in grades 3-12 each year around September 11th – grew by an astonishing 400 percent, reaching over 120,000 students from all 50 states, one U.S. territory, and seven countries. The need is pressing: already, there are students in high school too young to have personal memories of 9/11; some were not even born yet.

This post-9/11 generation faces challenges most of us never knew growing up. Understanding the complexities of the world in which we live is a core focus of our public programs, which provide a unique platform from which to address many of the most consequential issues of our time. Attendees have benefitted from exposure to the unique perspectives and unequalled expertise of an impressive roster of speakers including, FBI Director Christopher Wray, former Director of both the NSA and CIA General Michael Hayden, and VICE founder Suroosh Alvi. Interfaith dialogue, historical explorations, and creative performances rounded out a dynamic program calendar in 2017. One of the most memorable was a Tribeca Film Festival screening, when hundreds gathered in Foundation Hall to view the premiere of an episode on music composed in response to 9/11 from the CNN original series, “Soundtracks.”

None of this would be possible without your ongoing support, which enables the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to fulfill its core purpose as a place of pilgrimage and comfort, a refuge for remembrance, and a safe place in which to confront difficult history. In the year ahead, with your valued partnership, we will continue to advance the essential work of this institution.

With warm regards,
Alice M. Greenwald
President & CEO, National September 11 Memorial & Museum

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A Year in Review

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Our Mission
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Our Leadership
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Michael Bloomberg
From the Chairman
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Alice M. Greenwald
From the President
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A Look Back at 2017

At the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the year was filled with meaningful tributes, special events, memorable visits and more.

By the Numbers

In 2017, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum welcomed millions of visitors from around the world.

rose on Memorial plaque

6.8 Million+

Visitors to the Memorial

37 million+ visitors since opening in September 2011

Virgil quote on museum wall

3.1 Million+

Visitors to the Museum

10.9 million+ visitors since opening in May 2014

museum tour

185,000+

Memorial & Museum tour participants

"Uncommon Courage: First Responders on 9/11" guided museum tour

4,600+ participants on more than 285 tours

Museum members

18,175

Museum members
by year end

Become a Member

Educational Programs

classroom workshops

7,000+

Students attended

Classroom Workshops

webinar

120,000

Students reached

in all 50 states and seven countries during Anniversary in the Schools program & webinar

pencil

500+

Teachers attended

Professional Development Workshops

family

9,000

Participants

in Youth & Family Programs

Collections in 2017

2,135+

Objects, audio recordings and oral histories acquired

11,000+

Total artifacts in the collection

L.A. Kings jersey

Los Angeles Kings hockey jersey signed by first responders, professional hockey players, and 9/11 victims' families

Donated by Warren, Mojgan, Matthew and Joshua Binder in loving memory of Ace Bailey, Mark Bavis, and the many brave FDNY and NYPD who lost their lives trying to save people and all the countless innocent victims of 9/11

Photograph by Jin S. Lee

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fishing reel

Fishing reel owned by Stephen A. Knapp, one of six victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing

Gift of the Knapp family

Photograph by Michael Hnatov

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window fragment

Window glass fragment recovered by FEMA responder Harold Edward Spedding after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing

Gift of Daniel Sassa in remembrance of those lost in the 1993 and 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center

Photograph by 9/11 Museum Collections Staff

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Engaging Visitors

The Museum welcomes experts, artists and performers to help further conversations about the history of 9/11 and its continued impact.

public program

465,000+

Public program attendees

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Signing Steel

Museum visitors leave touching and powerful messages on digital screens near a piece of remnant World Trade Center steel. These comments and reflections are preserved in an archive.

220,000+

Entries in 2017

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Cover stories:
Remembering the Twin Towers on The New Yorker

In May, a special exhibition, "Cover Stories: Remembering the Twin Towers on The New Yorker," opened in the South Tower Gallery, featuring 33 covers from the weekly news and culture magazine. From the time the original World Trade Center towers first rose into the New York City skyline, they began appearing on covers of The New Yorker. For years, artists treated the Twin Towers playfully. After 9/11, somber imagery emerged. While the destruction of the towers was not depicted, the anxiety and sadness engulfing the nation took form on The New Yorker covers after the attacks. Over the years, the covers commemorated the loss of the towers while documenting the revitalization of the site. The exhibition will remain on view through Fall 2018.

New Yorker covers
New Yorker covers
New Yorker covers

Connecting with the Community

Throughout 2017, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum continued to build and strengthen relationships in support of its mission.

shoe

18,000+

Participants in the 5th Annual 5K Run/Walk and Community Day

medal

1,300+

Veterans who visited the Museum during Salute to Service

volunteers

470+

Volunteers

Mission to Remember

This original documentary series explores the institution's commitment to the mission behind the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The short films go beyond the surface to immerse viewers in previously untold, behind-the-scenes stories of staff dedication to remembrance.

Conserving Objects
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Honoring Victims' Birthdays
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The Survivor Tree

Each year, seedlings from the Survivor Tree on the 9/11 Memorial plaza are given to three communities that have endured tragedy, as an expression of solidarity and compassion and an affirmation of the potential for recovery and resilience. A total of 15 cities have been selected as part of the seedling distribution program since September 2013.

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Far Rockaways, Queens
Was torn and battered in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy.

Prescott, Arizona
In honor of the 19 firefighting members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who died on June 30, 2013. The fires in Arizona resulted in the highest number of American firefighters killed in a single incident since 9/11.

Boston, Massachusetts
In honor of the three people killed in the bombing at its marathon on April 15, 2013.

Oso, Washington
In memory of the 43 people killed in the March 22, 2014, mudslide in the small town and in recognition of their resiliency.

Gulfport, Mississippi
To remember those who died in the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas
In honor of the 16 victims and survivors of the shootings on November 5, 2009, and April 2, 2014, and in acknowledgement of the continued sacrifice of the men and women who serve and their families.

Newtown, Connecticut
In memory of the 20 school children and six adults who were killed on December 14, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Joplin, Missouri
In memory of the more than 150 people killed and more than 1,000 injured by a tornado in Joplin on May 22, 2011. The seedling for Joplin will be planted at Mercy Hospital Joplin which was in the direct path of the tornado.

Madrid, Spain
In memory of the 2004 coordinated terror bombings against the Cercanías commuter train system of Madrid that killed 190 people and wounded 1,800. The actual planting of the tree is expected to take place at the Embassy of Spain in Washington D.C. Madrid is the first international recipient in the program.

San Bernadino, California
In memory of the 14 people killed in a shooting on December 2, 2015, in San Bernardino, Calif.

Orlando, Florida
In memory of the 49 lives claimed in an Orlando nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016.

Paris, France
In memory of the more than 200 people slain in two unrelated mass killings only months apart in France: 130 people killed in the coordinated terror shootings and bombings in Paris on November 13, 2015, and 86 people killed in Nice on July 14, 2016, when a man used a truck to mow down revelers celebrating the national holiday of Bastille Day.

Manchester, United Kingdom
In memory of the 22 people, including young adults and children, killed by a terrorist bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, United Kingdom, on May 22, 2017.

Charleston, South Carolina
In memory of the nine people killed in a shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., on June 17, 2015.

Haiti
In memory of the numerous deaths and overwhelming destruction Haiti suffered during Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The Embassy of Haiti in Washington D.C. has accepted and will plant the seedling on behalf of its country.

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2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

Sacrifice and Survival

Explore the Registries, a living historical record of survival, recovery and commemoration.

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ribbons
fireman hat

14,430+

Rescue and recovery worker profiles

profiles

1,195+

Witness and survivor profiles

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1,175+

9/11 Memorial locations worldwide