Accession Number: C.2018.153.2
Dimensions: 3.25 in X 2 in
Dimensions (Metric): 8.255 cm X 5.08 cm
Credit Line: Gift of Adriana Maluendas
Description
Plastic electronic card key for the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel. The front of the card includes a blue and white graphic of the Twin Towers and the hotel, as well as blue printed text that reads: "New York | Marriott | World Trade Center | 3 World Trade Center | New York, NY 10048 | (212) 938-9100 | Fax (212) 444-3444 | Please Return Key to Front Desk Upon Check-Out." The back of the card includes instructions on how to use the card in multiple languages.
Historical Notes
Brazilian-born Adriana Maluendas arrived in New York City for the first time on September 8, 2001. She had booked a 10-day stay at the New York Marriott World Trade Center hotel. There, Maluendas would study for exams held at the New York Institute of Finance in the nearby South Tower.
On September 11, Maluendas woke early and telephoned her family in Brazil. She was about to leave for her 9:00 a.m. exam when she heard a loud noise. Feeling the room shake, Maluendas grabbed her purse and evacuated the building. Outside the hotel, she heard hijacked Flight 175 hit the South Tower and later witnessed the building’s collapse. As Maluendas fled the area, the North Tower fell. Dazed and in an unfamiliar city, she started to walk with no destination in mind.
Maluendas soon found a list in her purse of alternate hotels prepared by her travel agent and headed to a hotel on the list. Upon presenting her passport, Maluendas was shocked to learn that her family had already called the hotel, hoping to locate her. Maluendas got in touch with her family and confirmed that she had survived.