Americans Mourn Huge Loss of 9/11 Tribute Museum in New York

It's a sad day for Americans as what some would argue as being the most important museum in the country has closed their doors forever. Yesterday, August 17, was the final day of operation for the 9/11 Tribute Museum in New York City.

According to NBC New York, the decision was brought on after a sharp drop in visitors since the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of revenue caused quite a large amount of financial hardship, which forced the executives with the museum to make the gut wrenching decision to shut their doors for good.

"We're millions of dollars in debt with our lease, and to try and make that up on top of our annual operating cost is almost impossible without visitors or some intervention from our government," said Jennifer Adams-Webb, CEO and co-founder of the museum.

Get our free mobile app

It was cited that annual admissions dropped substantially to 26,000 last year, compared to 150,000 in 2019. The museum had welcomed more than five million visitors through its doors in the time since it opened.

The small and intimate museum has been located on Greenwich Street since it's opening in 2006. It was opened originally by the widows and families of FDNY members who died in the attacks, as a support mechanism for all the victim's families. It's not far from the National September 11 Memorial Museum that sits next to the memorial pools at the site where the former Twin Towers stood.

What was once inside the building will be relocated to the New York State Museum in Albany, with the group coordinating with donors to ensure that the exhibits and artifacts are handled properly and respectfully.

Although there will be no physical location for visiting, the museum still does plan to continue their online presence so those who have stories related to the 9/11 attacks still have a space to tell their stories. They will also continue to provide educational resources and support for the 9/11 community.