River Water Valve, Recovered
Photo credit: Jin S. Lee
Accession Number: C.2011.179.145
Dimensions: 112 in X 86 in X 65 in X 66 in
Dimensions (Metric): 284.48 cm X 218.44 cm X 165.1 cm X 167.64 cm
Dimensions (Metric): 284.48 cm X 218.44 cm X 165.1 cm X 167.64 cm
Credit Line: Recovered from the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001
Collection 9/11 Memorial Museum, Courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Collection 9/11 Memorial Museum, Courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Description
Recovered steel river water valve, painted blue.
Recovered steel river water valve, painted blue.
Historical Notes
Part of a pipeline that carried water from the Hudson River to an underground refrigeration plant, this 17,800-pound valve was installed in 1993 in connection with an upgrade to the World Trade Center’s air-conditioning systems. The subterranean motorized valves could be closed manually for maintenance and in case of emergency. After the collapse of the Twin Towers, engineers concerned about the risk of flooding searched for the valves underneath the wreckage and closed them as a precautionary measure.
Part of a pipeline that carried water from the Hudson River to an underground refrigeration plant, this 17,800-pound valve was installed in 1993 in connection with an upgrade to the World Trade Center’s air-conditioning systems. The subterranean motorized valves could be closed manually for maintenance and in case of emergency. After the collapse of the Twin Towers, engineers concerned about the risk of flooding searched for the valves underneath the wreckage and closed them as a precautionary measure.
