In Their Honor - 25th Anniversary Special Exhibition

Soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks, people across the nation mobilized with a shared sense of resolve to help those in need. Some efforts emerged immediately in the aftermath, while others took shape over time.

Faced with the suffering they observed, people wanted to make things better, offering whatever skills or resources they had. Firefighters and ironworkers stood alongside chefs, artists, medical teams, and other volunteers across countless fields and areas of expertise. For some, this impulse would change the trajectory of their lives.

As a generation comes of age with no lived memory of September 11, this special exhibition explores a legacy from the catastrophe of 9/11 that has endured: purposeful dedication to acts of service. The work of individuals and communities who transformed pain into action—spanning emergency response, advocacy, ongoing remembrance, artistic creation, and more—has touched lives around the world and continues to do so.

In Their Honor invites reflection on the enduring impact of 9/11-inspired service and consideration of how this legacy continues to shape our shared social fabric. This exhibition is now on view in the Museum through 2030.