The national september 11 memorial and museum will develop an 18-month exhibition exploring the intergenerational impact of the attack on the world trade center

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded $858,388 to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center on September 1, 2026, under the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301) to develop an 18-month exhibition exploring the intergenerational impact of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

The exhibition will feature photographic portraits of children of fallen firefighters who later joined the New York City Fire Department, alongside personal artifacts and oral histories. Museum staff will work with advisors and external contractors to conduct exhibition research, design, fabrication, installation, and interpretation. Deliverables include a multilingual audio tour, educator resources, and an exhibition website. An estimated three million visitors will access the exhibition, with additional reach through online materials for students and teachers. The project addresses documented need for accessible ways to teach and understand how the legacy of September 11 continues to shape families, communities, and public service.

Performance takes place in New York, New York, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028.

Featuring photographic portraits of the children of fallen firefighters who later joined the city's fire department themselves, the exhibition will also include personal artifacts and oral histories. Advisors and a variety of external contractors will assist museum staff with exhibition research, design, fabrication, installation, and interpretation. In addition to the exhibition and public programming, project deliverables will include a multilingual audio tour, educator resources, and an exhibition website. An estimated three million visitors will see the exhibition in addition to students and teachers accessing online materials. The project will address a documented need for accessible ways to teach and understand how the legacy of september 11 continues to shape families, communities, and public service.