Tribute WTC Visitor Center

Courtesy of Curtis Quinn
Left to right: PA Executive Director Kenneth Ringler, NY Gov. George Pataki, NYS Speaker Sheldon Silver, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Tribute's Lee Ielpi, Jen Adams and Lynn Tierney cut the ribbon to open Tribute on 9/6/06

Courtesy of Curtis Quinn
On January 16, 2007, four months after opening, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center welcomed its 100,000th visitor.

Courtesy of Meri Lobel

Experience the Stories of September 11th

Person to Person History Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers visitors to the World Trade Center site deeply moving gallery experiences and meaningful walking tours.

Mission

Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers visitors to the World Trade Center site a place where they can connect with people from the September 11th community. Through walking tours, exhibits and programs, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers "Person to Person History," linking visitors who want to understand and appreciate these historic events with those who experienced them.

History

The Tribute Center embodies the need to gather at the World Trade Center site, connect with the people, places and events of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001, and reflect. Tribute WTC Visitor Center is a project of the September 11th Families' Association, a 501(C)3 non-profit corporation. The Tribute WTC Visitor Center expands upon the September 11th Families’ Association mission to unite and support victims of terrorism by incorporating the entire 9/11 community – families, survivors, residents, rescue workers and volunteers affected by 9/11/01. The Center creates a central place for information about 9/11 at the WTC site. Visitors learn factual information about the events on September 11th, the identity of 2,973 people killed in the attacks, the unprecedented rescue and recovery operations and the tremendous spirit of support and generosity that arose after the attacks.

Program components provide sensitive reception and hospitality to men, women and children from all over the world who will receive guidance, friendship, and the opportunity to carry with them a significant memory for the rest of their lives. The educational program depicts to visitors a core curriculum through the gallery space, lectures, multimedia displays and guided walks around the World Trade Center site. The Tribute WTC Center is working in collaboration with the National September 11th Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center to evaluate visitation.

The Tribute Center serves to welcome over 300,000 visitors to Lower Manhattan annually. Currently, there is no where for them to learn constructively or to seek information about September 11, 2001 in proximity to the WTC site. The Tribute Center offers 6,000 square feet of exhibit and educational meeting space for visitors in one of downtown’s historic buildings at 120 Liberty Street. The Tribute WTC Center is located next to FDNY firehouse 10/10 and across from the World Trade Center site.

More about the Creation of the Tribute Center