New York State Museum Marks 25th Anniversary of September 11th Attacks with New Photography Exhibition, Rarely Seen Artifacts on Display, and Public Programs

New photography exhibition Witness to 9/11 documents the attacks and their aftermath through the work of two New York Daily News photojournalists

The images below can be downloaded from the online press kit

The New York State Museum today announced a new photography exhibition, a new display of rarely seen artifacts, and a series of public programs to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Together, these exhibitions and programs honor the lives lost, those who responded, and the lasting impact on New York and the nation.

Opening September 5, 2026, Witness to 9/11 is a new photography exhibition that explores the immediate response and aftermath of the attacks, told primarily through the work of two New York Daily News photographers, Todd Maisel and David Handschuh. Both were among the journalists who responded to Lower Manhattan that morning, unaware of what would unfold. In addition to documenting the attacks, Maisel assisted when Handschuh was seriously injured in the collapse of the South Tower. Together, their photographs capture both the devastation of the attacks and the extraordinary human response that followed.

Photographs taken by Maisel and Handschuh at Ground Zero are displayed alongside artifacts, including Maisel's Nikon camera, a damaged cast-iron lamppost that had formed the western boundary of the World Trade Center complex, and a fragment of fuselage from a Boeing 767 that was recovered by staff at the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. The exhibition will be on view through May 2, 2027.

Witness to 9/11 serves as a complement to the Museum's long-term installation, World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response. The existing gallery, which opened on September 5, 2002, will be updated to include a windbreaker worn by forensic specialist Brian Gestring when he responded to the site. Gestring, a member of the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, was in front of the Marriott Hotel when the South Tower began to collapse and was evacuated by boat to New Jersey. The jacket was recovered separately, having been misplaced following the collapse.

Museum Director Jennifer Saunders said, "Twenty-five years after September 11, the responsibility to preserve and share the history of that day is more important than ever. For millions of New Yorkers, these events remain a deeply personal memory; for a growing generation, they are history understood through the photographs, objects, and stories that have been preserved. The New York State Museum has a unique responsibility to safeguard that record. These photographs and artifacts bear witness not only to unimaginable loss but also to extraordinary courage, service, sacrifice, and resilience. By bringing these stories forward, we honor those who were killed, those who responded, and all those whose lives were forever changed, while ensuring that future generations understand the profound and lasting impact of September 11 on New York and the nation."

David Handschuh said, "On September 11, 2001, photojournalists ran towards danger alongside hundreds of rescue workers. Twenty-five years later, we are suffering the same life-threatening illness as far too many first responders. We owe a big thank you to the New York State Museum for featuring exhibits over the past two and a half decades that assure not only that no one will ever forget, but that we will always remember the sacrifices of so many."

Todd Maisel said, "I could never have imagined that I would be rescuing the rescuers. And that is what I found myself doing on September 11. At the same time, I realized that many of my firefighter and police officer friends that I'd known had perished. I questioned myself as to why I am alive and the heroes were gone. It occurred to me that my surviving unscathed twice was no accident and that there was a deeper purpose. I had something more important to do and that was to tell the story - maybe this was part of the newest testament. Nonetheless, I would swear to never forget."

Brian Gestring said, "When forensic scientists look at evidence, we try to reconstruct events from a quick snapshot in time. I could never have imagined that something I wore on a day-to-day basis would face similar scrutiny and end up in a museum frozen in time. On September 11th, I was caught under the collapsing South Tower and nearly killed. My last memory was trying to dive under an FDNY ladder truck for cover. To this day, I have no idea how I got from trying to dive under a firetruck on Liberty Street to where I was found, or how I made it out alive at all. While I had a long and often difficult road to recovery, I was still more fortunate than many of the other first responders who were just feet from me when the South Tower collapsed."

In addition to the exhibitions, the Office of Cultural Education has scheduled a series of public programs throughout September.

Witness to 9/11: An Evening with Photojournalists Todd Maisel and David Handschuh

Date: Wednesday, September 9

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Huxley Theater

Todd Maisel and David Handschuh will reflect on their experiences and the personal impact of documenting one of the defining events in American history. The evening will conclude with a discussion led by the Museum's Senior Historian of Military and Political History, Aaron Noble, followed by an audience Q&A. Using selected images from the Witness to 9/11 exhibition as a starting point, the conversation will explore the enduring role of photojournalism in preserving history and shaping public memory.

The World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response Gallery Tour

Date: Friday, September 11

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: World Trade Center Gallery

This gallery tour explores the history of the World Trade Center, the events of September 11, 2001, the extraordinary rescue and recovery efforts that followed, and the ways New Yorkers and people across the nation responded to the tragedy. The tour provides an opportunity to engage with this important chapter in history and reflect on the courage, resilience, and lasting impact of the events of September 11, 2001.

Sadako's Crane: An Origami Activity of Remembrance

Date: Saturday, September 12

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: World Trade Center Gallery

Folded by 12-year-old Sadako Sasaki, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, this small paper crane created from a medicine wrapper has become a lasting reminder of hope, resilience, and the wish for peace.

Visitors are invited to learn about Sadako's story and create their own origami crane as a meaningful tribute. This family-friendly activity offers an opportunity for reflection, creativity, and connection through the tradition of paper crane folding.

The World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response Gallery Tour

Date: Sunday, September 13

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Location: World Trade Center Gallery

This gallery tour explores the history of the World Trade Center, the events of September 11, 2001, the extraordinary rescue and recovery efforts that followed, and the ways New Yorkers and people across the nation responded to the tragedy. The tour provides an opportunity to engage with this important chapter in history and reflect on the courage, resilience, and lasting impact of the events of September 11, 2001.

Special Documentary Screening - 9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero

Date: Sunday, September 13

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: Huxley Theater

Join the New York State Museum for a special screening of 9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero, a documentary exploring the complex and deeply personal decisions that shaped the future of the World Trade Center site after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This film examines the debate over rebuilding, as the families of victims, community members, city leaders, and others wrestled with how to honor those lost while imagining the future of Lower Manhattan.

Canine Courage: The Search and Rescue Dogs of September 11

Date: Saturday, September 19

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: World Trade Center Gallery

Join museum educator Kate Ting for a family-friendly program exploring the incredible work of the search and rescue dogs who assisted during the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Learn how specially trained canine teams supported rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site and discover how these remarkable dogs used their skills to help people during one of the most challenging moments in American history.

About the New York State Museum

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State's rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on all state-observed holidays, including the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter.