Ground Zero Museum Workshop

This is an exellent collection of photographs and artifacts with caring and specific oral detail. I would highly recommend.

I was surprised that the whole museum and tour were in one second story room. There were more that 100 photos with a description of each by the photographer. Some of the photos were moving, but there was perhaps too much and it was perhaps overly sentimental.

Our family went to the Ground Zero Museum during our visit to NYC in August. We had heard alot about the exhibt via the internet and were quite interested in hearing about 9/11 from a different perspective than just seeing the dramatic airplane attacks on the twin towers. Our children (13 and 16 yrs) had some recollection of the event, but were quite naive about the situation in general. We found the museum experience to be very sombering, very beautiful and extremely thought provoking. My husband and I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to hear some of the very personal stories that emerged from the crisis of September 11th. The photographs were beautiful and the recollections heartfelt. The one criticism that I had for the museum was that there is too much information given out about the photographs and exhibits during the introduction. The young interpreters (who are all wonderful young committed adults) tell way too much about many of the exhibits, which left me wondering why I wasn't allowed to just listen and look and feel without the additional commentary which seemed to be far too detailed as an introduction. I would highly recommend this exhibit to anyone, but would suggest strongly to the curators that they limit their introduction and explanation of different exhibits before the tours. Let people learn and interpret on their own. People will be drawn to where they need to go. I believe a greater role for the exhibitors would be for them to serve as resource people and to answer questions as people move through the museum. I congratulate you on your spectacular exhibit. We went to Ground Zero after touring your museum and then went to St Paul's Cathedral afterward. We would never have been able to appreciate either of these without the experience of the Ground Zero museum workshop. Thank you so much. Kim Frache

Gary is simply amazing, I was so honored to have him as a guide. The amount of heart and attention put by individuals so involved in 9/11 to honour the memory of friends and strangers through the interaction with uncanny objects and brilliant photographs is just breathtaking. There is just so much emotion in that well-tended space- to remind us of the fragility of our tenuous peace and to never forget the significance of the event. Yet the most important thing that this memorial brings up is the hope and love between people; celebrating their bravery, passion and strength in trying times.

The museum is fantastic, the staff friendly and knowledgable. Gary Marlon Suson has created a monument that will endear to anyone who visits and will stand the test of time. Well worth visiting

The museum is a fantastic tribute that is paid in an extremely tasteful yet emotional manner which allows the visitor to understand the emotional aspects of that tragic event on September 11th 2001.

The photo gallery with the audio description provides emotional, moving commentary at a level & intimacy few will experience. The staff is enthusiastic & very helpful beyond their scope as museum docents. I partnered this museum with a visit to ground zero and it proved to be a somber yet hopeful layer to my NYC visit.

The photos were incredible. Each narrated story gave each photo and artifact deeper meaning. You got a real sense of what happened; not just on 9/11, but the days and months that followed.

I read all the great reviews for this museum, but had to see if for myself. I chose the day of 9-11 to attend and I still can't stop thinking of the museum. The museum was easy to find and we were able to wear headphones and listen to the stories behind the pictures (at your own pace). That was nice. The photography and layout of the museum are unique and to be able to touch/hold artifacts from the towers is also amazing. The stories behind the pictures were heartbreaking, but also showed human perseverance during a dark time. The books, postcards, and patches are also intriguing and reasonably priced. I highly recommend this museum to everyone. It has helped me heal. **Never forget**

Best museum of the holiday!

Since I was involved in the Oklahoma City bombing as President of American Red Cross and have been to that museum several times. I have had the Exc. Dir speak at our Kiwanis club, would sugest to visit that or one or your board of directors for ideas and to enlarge. I visited the Russian Teardrop in New Jersey and it was the only memorial I could find for 9/11. You need to see this 50 ft teardrop if you have not. It is outstanding with all the names that were killed at the bottom. Have they made a decision on our Memorial. Kent Tucker Ardmore, Oklahoma

An amazing collection that speaks most from its silence. The pictures capture an event in the most moving way I could imagine. The artifacts, often haunting, are never distasteful. The prersenter for the introduction was filled with compassion for the event he spoke of and for the museum he represented. One can not imagine all that is contained in a 1,000 square foot room. Two hours vanished in both my tears and awe. A tribute done with love. Ken Resch Iowa

This museum provides a very touching, detailed visual account of the rescue efforts at Ground Zero. Our family found it very meaningful and a morning well spent.

The museum is in a small space, but displays powerful images and artifacts. An audio recording describes each photograph taken at Ground Zero by the man who took the pictures. It was well worth the visit.

My boyfriend and I viewed the workshop during our trip to NYC last week. Upon entering the museum we did not expect to be as greatly moved as we were. The museum is small, only about the size our our living room, but as we soon found out we shouldn't have judged a book by its cover! The room is full of pictures and artifacts that each have a story behind them. These stories are told by Gary himself and you truly receive a first hand account of what it was like for the firefighters and police officers working the ground zero recovery. Gary had taken on the duty of being our eyes in an area that the public was not allowed to view and he has portrayed the aftermath of 9/11 in such a way that some stories hurt, some stories make you wonder, and most of the stories help to show the goodness of human nature that shined through even in New York's darkest hours. You will walk away from this workshop with a lot better understanding of what went on in the pit through a sheltered view. There are no human remains or known personal belongings of victims. That's not what this museum is about. It is to help bring closure and a better understanding and to relieve some of the hatred that was created the morning the towers fell. You will be amazed by the stories that Gary tells in the tour. Never will you get an understanding of what went on in the hole better than the way that Gary helps to depict it to us. This is a wonderful exibhit and I'm very glad I had the opprutunity to experience it.