The 9/11 Tribute Museum has closed permanently.
Co-founder and CEO Jennifer Adams-Webb said, “Financial hardship including lost revenue caused by the pandemic prevents us from generating sufficient funding to continue to operate the physical museum,” according to ABC 7 New York.
The outlet noted that only 26,000 people visited last year compared to more than 500,000 in 2011.
Adams-Webb added, “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.”
However, the museum will maintain an online presence.
According to officials, this will allow the museum to go on with providing educational resources and support for the 9/11 community, as ABC 7 New York reported.
Volunteer Peter Bitwinski explained, “Everything we’ve done, I’ve been proud of,” per the outlet.
He continued, “The amount of handshakes and tears I’ve experienced over the 13 years is what made it all worth it.”
Bitwinski survived both the 1993 bombing at the North Tower of the World Trade Center and the 9/11 terrorist attacks after being in an office on the 69th floor.
A lot of the museum’s physical collection will reportedly go to the New York State Museum in Albany.
The announcement did not sit well with some on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/IanBohen/status/1560160030774681600
In less than a month, family members of 9/11 victims will gather for the 21st anniversary commemoration ceremony.
Almost 3,000 people were killed after 19 militants associated with al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and flew them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, Pentagon and one crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.