Moving. That, in a nutshell, is how to sum up a visit to the 9/11 Workshop Museum, often dubbed New York’s “smallest big museum”, a place that is both modest and powerful. It is one of those attractions that leaves a lasting impression. Located at 420 West 14th Street in New York, it really takes you back to the most unbelievable images of the tragedy of 11 September 2001.
Visit the 9/11 Wokshop Museum
The 9/11 Workshop Museum (Ground Zero Museum Workshop), dedicated to the tragic events of 11 September, is very different from the National September 11 Museum. Unlike the latter, which is located on the World Trade Center site itself, this small private museum (just one room) is in the trendy Meatpacking District. Its small size and discreet location, at 420 West 14th Street between 9th Avenue and Washington Street, could easily escape you. So keep an eye out for the sign on the pavement and the door with an intercom.
Ground Zero Museum Workshop serves as a place of commemoration, remembrance and information. It offers self-guided tours with an audio guide. These tours offer visitors a unique and informative experience as they explore the exhibitions and learn about the events of 11 September 2001.
The history of the Ground Zero Museum Workshop and its creator
Founded by Gary Marlon Suson, this museum houses almost 3,000 photographs and many rare artefacts, bearing witness to the tragic events of 11 September 2001 and the months of research that followed.
Occupying just 30 square metres, this space was once Garry Marlon Suson’s photo studio. Today, it has been transformed into a place of memory and reflection, where each object on display tells a profound and poignant story. Among the most striking pieces is a clock stopped at 10:02 and 14 seconds, the precise moment when the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.
Gary Marlon Suson, originally from Chicago, was a fashion photographer. After the attacks, his photographs of New York in mourning, published on the SeptemberEleven.net website, attracted the attention of the New York Firemen’s Union. They gave him an unprecedented assignment: to document the search operations at Ground Zero.
Accepting the task without remuneration and with the promise not to publish his photos until the end of his mission, with any profits going to the families of the victims, Suson embarked on an experience that was to change his life.
His task was not without consequences: spending 16 to 19 hours a day on the site, he found himself isolated in an environment marked by death and desolation. The impact on his mental and financial health was considerable. Between 2002 and 2005, he battled severe depression and found himself 20,000 dollars in debt, with repeated power cuts at home.
The idea of creating the Ground Zero Museum Workshop came to him during a visit to the Anne Frank Museum in the Netherlands in 2004. He realised the importance of creating a space for mourning, remembering and, ultimately, healing. “The tears shed in my museum are part of the healing process. If you can’t connect with the disaster, you can’t heal“, he says.
So the Ground Zero Museum Workshop doesn’t just display objects, it offers an intimate and profound experience, allowing visitors to connect personally with the events of 11 September. It is a poignant tribute to human resilience and a solemn reminder of the tragedy that has marked the world.
Thank you Gary
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Gary for his time and all the information he shared with me. I can only encourage you to drop by the Ground Zero Museum Workshop, you’ll certainly come across him.
Jérôme from NYC.fr
Visit at your own pace
The museum offers an audio guide in several languages, including English, French, Spanish and Italian. As soon as you enter the number that relates to the object on your audioguide, Gary’s voice shares the background and history behind each object, providing captivating, detailed and anecdote-filled narratives. You can explore at your own pace. Make the most of it and take all the time you need!
By visiting the Ground Zero Workshop Museum, you are supporting the six charities that help the families of firefighters. We can honour the memory of those who lost their lives and ensure that their stories are never forgotten.
With its collection of artefacts, personal stories of survivors and first responders, the museum offers a powerful insight as well as an interactive experience reminding visitors of the impact of the attacks.
Practical information
How to get there
By metro: 14 St – 8 Av
Location
The Ground Zero Museum Workshop is located at 420 W 14th St fl 2, New York, NY 10014, United States.
Booking
Reservations can be made quickly online. Admission costs $30. You can visit the Ground Zero Museum Workshop with the Go City Pass, The New York Pass, Sightseeing Day Pass, Sightseeing Flex Pass.
When you book in advance, you can select the day and time of your visit.
