Smithsonian's September 11 Exhibition to Open Next Week at the Washington State History Museum

Smithsonian's September 11 Exhibition to Open Next Week at the Washington State History Museum

Display Will Feature Historically Significant Artifacts, Images and Stories From One of the Most Tragic Days in American History

TACOMA, Wash., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the most-popular and powerful displays ever produced by the Smithsonian -- the "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" exhibit -- will make a three month stop at the Washington State History Museum (WSHM) beginning next week. The nationally- touring exhibit will open to the public on Sunday, January 30 and remain on display through Sunday, April 24.

"This exhibit encourages visitors to not only reflect on the specific events of 9/11, but also to contemplate the significance of experiencing an historic event as it unfolds," said David Nicandri, director of the Washington State History Museum. "With that in-mind, we invite visitors to view the exhibit and to share their personal experiences and memories of this historic day."

The exhibit is comprised of six separate sections that use artifacts, images and personal accounts to tell the story of September 11. Featured items that will be on display include: damaged items from the World Trade Center and Pentagon, a bullhorn used by President Bush to speak to recovery crews at Ground Zero, clothing worn by survivors, and objects used by rescue workers and public officials. The collection also includes several everyday items that have now taken on extraordinary significance because of their association with September 11 including a crushed file cabinet from the Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop that was located in the World Trade Center's shopping concourse. The crushed and twisted metal holds file folders in its mangled form.

The exhibit will also provide local visitors with the opportunity to share their own September 11 experiences by asking the questions "How did you witness history on September 11?" and "Has your life changed since September 11?" All responses will be reviewed by the Smithsonian and considered as additions to the national archive.

The exhibit will also receive support from local first responders including firefighters and police officers who will be on-hand to help staff the event and to share their recollections and perspectives on this historic day.

More than a million people visited the exhibit when it was displayed for the first time at the National Museum of American History. The traveling version of the "September 11" exhibition closely follows the original and has attracted large crowds at each of the stops on its national tour.

The cost of admission to the museum, which includes the exhibit, is $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and $5 for students 6 - 18, $5 for military with I.D. and children under five are free. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The website for "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" is available to the public at http://americanhistory.si.edu/september11/ . The website provides access to the museum's entire September 11 collection as well as interviews with curators. After the exhibition closes, the database will remain online as a permanent Web feature, expanding as the September 11 collection grows and providing the public with virtual access to the entire collection.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History traces American heritage through exhibitions of social, cultural, scientific and technological history. Collections are displayed in exhibitions that interpret the American experience from Colonial times to the present.

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES) has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C. for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history which are shown wherever people live, work and play including museums, libraries, science centers, historical societies, community centers, botanical gardens, schools and shopping malls. Exhibition descriptions and tour schedules are available at www.sites.si.edu.

The Washington State History Museum, flagship of the Washington State Historical Society, is located at 1911 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma, just off I-5. The museum presents exhibits, programs and events that bring to life the stories of Washington state's history. More information, including hours and admission rates, can be accessed by calling 1-888-BE-THERE (1-888-238-4373) or by visiting www.washingtonhistory.org


Source: Washington State History Museum

CONTACT: Dan Branley, +1-206-262-0395, or dbranley@dsandp.com, for
Washington State History Museum

Web site: http://www.sites.si.edu/

Web site: http://www.washingtonhistory.org/


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