Online Story Collections

Experience our interactive online exhibits created from our oral history collection.

The 9/11 Tribute Center has recorded and collected over 400 personal oral histories from the 9/11 community. Collecting, preserving and sharing this history is central to our mission.

Highlights from Our Collection

	Journalists & 9/11 – Reporting On Trauma On the morning of 9/11, New York journalists covered the biggest story of their lifetimes. Running into danger alongside first responders, their mission was to inform the public what was happening. Photographers and reporters walked underneath the Twin Towers completely unaware of the imminent threat to their own lives. They captured the images and sounds of history, but their exposure to such a traumatic environment resulted in profound choices they each made as they moved forward. View this exhibit

	Crafting our 9/11 Stories: A Transformational Journey Investigating, clarifying, understanding our experiences. Sharing stories that open minds and touch hearts. View this exhibit

	Surviving 9/11 Survivors of 9/11, like people who experience other unexpected tragedies, recover by acknowledging and seeking understanding about their experience. Survivors often develop a new, and stronger, sense of self. Click on the “Surviving” Themes or “Survivor” Stories above to watch 34 short videos. View this exhibit

	What Visitors Say About Our Tours Hear reflections visitors from around the world about our tours and their thoughts on understanding 9/11. View this exhibit

	Tour Guides: Connect & Reflect Experience 9/11 stories as told by our guides and their thoughts about the future. Gain insight into the healing power of telling and listening to 9/11 stories. View this exhibit

	The National Guard The National Guard played a central role in the recovery efforts and securing the nation in the aftermath of 9/11. Watch videos about the National Guard’s personal experiences and their reflections about the anguish of responding to an attack in their own backyard. View this exhibit

More from Our Collection

	September 11th: Personal Stories of Transformation This toolkit is a collection of eight video stories of people who were deeply affected by the attacks of 9/11 and responded with humanitarian initiatives to strengthen their local and global communities. The stories include a local high school principal, a survivor, 9/11 family members, first responders, Muslim community member, and brothers who created memorials in Pennsylvania and Virginia. In addition to multimedia stories, these videos include materials for classroom use. View this exhibit

	Building World Trade Community leaders, real estate developers, architects and community members share their excitement and insight into the rebirth of Lower Manhattan. View this exhibit

	Renewing Our American Dream Immigrant New Yorkers share the many new challenges they had to overcome in the aftermath of 9/11, both on the WTC site and in their home communities. View this exhibit

	The USS NEW YORK – In Tribute Crew and contractors that worked on the USS NEW YORK share the symbolism as well as the personal meaning of creating and launching this ship. View this exhibit

	Getting Back to Business Business leaders – from large corporations and small mom-and-pop shops – share the challenges they faced in trying to bring their businesses back to lower Manhattan in the years after 9/11. View this exhibit

	Inside the Fence Sanitation and transit workers and the labor leaders that supported them share their powerful stories of persistence and resilience in clearing debris from the World Trade Center site. View this exhibit