Photo credit: 9/11 Memorial staff
Accession Number: C.2015.294.1
Dimensions: 32 in X 204 in X 24 in
Dimensions (Metric): 81.28 cm X 518.16 cm X 60.96 cm
Credit Line: Gift of Trinity Wall Street
Description
Chapel pew made of painted white pinewood with grooves and scuff marks across the back rest from tool belts worn by recovery workers.
Historical Notes
Remarkably, Manhattan’s oldest public building in continuous use, located directly across from Ground Zero, suffered minimal damage on 9/11. Part of the Episcopal Parish of Trinity Church, St. Paul’s Chapel was among the first locations where food and supplies were distributed to recovery workers. It evolved into an around-the-clock relief center with staff members, clergy, and volunteers working 12-hour shifts. Blankets, pillows, and music beckoned exhausted workers to rest on the pews. Scuff marks from boots and tool belts were preserved on the pews as reminders of the refuge provided during the recovery period.