Ground Zero Museum Workshop

I was so impressed by the museum I struggled to put it all into words. My first draft I went on so long the page expired and I had to start over. Really! So this is shorter. This is an amazing, heart-wrenching and beautifully done museum. It does a wonderful job telling the stories behind the pictures. Absolute must see. Brings the pain, sacrifice and humanity of that terrible day and the months to follow to a reality for those of us who weren't there. Thank you to Mr. Suson, the museum staff, and everyone else involved; you've done the victims, their families, and the recovery workers proud. I hope you are able to keep this gem going in some fashion after the National 9/11 museum is open. Debra - Springfield, IL

This small museum is a very tasteful tribute to those lost on 9/11. The artifacts and photographs immerse you into the days following 9/11, and give a very real depiction of what went on during that time.

We arrived two and half hours early to make sure we knew of location and guide was at door waiting for the earlier tour. She was very friendly and helpful and accommodated our request to do the tour early. The museum is very small and on arrival it feels like it is too small. However, this ensures that you can see all exhibits for as long as you wish and have ample time to listen to the thought provoking commentary by Mr Suson. It helps non New Yorkers to imagine what the site was like and the devastation caused to all those involved. This is achieved by a very well thought out exhibition. The museum being a small area with a homely feel ensures that those grieving would feel comfortable. Best to do this workshop before walking down to the WTC site. We looked at the other museum next to Ground Zero but found it was much too crowded to view properly. Highly recommended!!!!!

My husband and I visited this museum on a recent trip to NY with our oldest daughter who is 13. We all found the museum emotionally moving yet respectful of the victims. The museum is one room and only allows a few visitors at a time. This atmosphere provides a solemn experience and even a sense of mourning among visitors. I didn't come away with an overwhelming feeling of sadness as I thought I would have upon leaving. Instead, I felt a sense of paying respect to those who had suffered so much during the attack. I wouldn't recommend taking small children, there is much to touch and their attention spans wouldn't last long.

My wife and I, from The UK, visited GZMW on our previous visit to New York in December '07 and on returning we just had to bring our daughter to the museum this time. She is 17 and the events of 911 are one of her vivid memories of childhood and on this day she became aware of the real world. She was very moved by her experience of GZMW and was fortunate to meet Gary Suson as well. We were on an action packed vacation in The US including Las Vegas and she stated the GZMW was the highlight of her holiday.

As part of my family trip to NYC I wanted to see ground zero since our last family trip was in 2000 and our christmas card was my daughters at Ellis Island with the twin towers in the background. I didn't know about the museum, but found it on my websearch. It was not until the point in checking out that I realized it wasn't near the site! I did feel somewhat leery that I had been scammed and when I saw the directions to the meat packing district and going to a second floor I thought I was right. Well I was wrong. Once we entered the video was just starting and after that ended I saw what was an intimate area was full of images and stories. My daughters and I stayed for around and hour and half and have recommended it to our New York friends who didn't know it existed. Doug Thompson, Claremont, CA

This is history in the making NOW. Persons of all ages should not miss this sensitve, personal account of human beings joining together from all over our nation to lend a hand in whatever one could do. What I appreciated about this workshop/tour is that there's only 20 per tour. The room is small where you watch videos as well as see/feel what is left of the glass, papers, personal belongings etc. It's really uncanny how Gary M. Susan was the one choosen to be the official (and only) photographer allowed on this sacred ground - he captures the raw tenderness as well as the intense reality of what happened. I grew up in New York and now live in Atlanta, GA.. I was in Atlanta on 9/11 and will never forget what I was in the middle of doing and how I've viewed life from a different prospective after that day. I felt such a sense of urgency to get back to NY and bring my daughter who was 11 at the time and we did. We flew in 4 weeks later to smoke still rising and rubble still burning. The stench was overwhelming and walking around, looking at all the missing persons bulletins pulled at my heart and soul. From stepping off the train at Grand Central and being greated by the National Guard everywhere, streets locked down, 5th avenue with nothing but flags and police everywhere. A very still quiteness to this city that I've never heard or felt before. I could go on and on about more that I saw and felt, the bottom line is that not every visit to NY should be about a Broadway Play, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, great food and such - things that bring a smile and happiness to your face just by "being a part of it". There are times when one needs to feel and understand the pain of so many families, pray for them and their losses and hold a piece of history in your heart - this is the place. And it should bring a smile, a sense of warmness with a better understanding of what those that rescued and cleaned up are still living with and going through. And how we all can appreciate our lives and those we love everyday. It is a gift. NEVER FORGET.

Our 3 children range in ages 10-17. I highly recommend this museum. Gary Suson has used his God-given gift to create a atmospshere that displays love and respect. We are such a visual generation and this allows you to absorb it at your own pace. Although my youngest does not remember where she was when "the world stopped turning", she will never forget this museum.

We found this a very moving and profound experience and one that we have highly recommended to our friends and family. The human side of 9/11 has been captured in a very sensitive and detailed way. This is the side we didn't always see in the news, but it was a side that is important to understand. For such a small little museum, you had a huge impact.

The stories we heard and the photos we say truly impacted us. We had been to Ground Zero right before we came to this museum, and found the photos to be touching and the stories insightful!

Went with our two teenage boys and think that everyone needs to experience this museum. Definitely worth the time and money - NEVER FORGET!!

The exhibit is a room filled with rememberance of the events of 9/11 with primary focus on the incredible 8-month ground zero recovery effort. It's repectful to the families of the victims and pays homage to the many diverse volunteers who worked round-the-clock during the recovery effort. It's an amazing testimony to the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. There is an introduction video followed by a self-guided audio tour. Individual headsets are provided. Take the time to listen to the narration for each item on display. You will be moved in ways you didn't expect.

For us, this was one of the highlights of our visit to New York. We were made to feel very welcome and the workshop had a very professinal touch to it. There was a short film at the beginning which set the scene brilliantly and explained how some of the images had been captured. The rest of the workshop was through interactive audio headsets which allowed the user to pick and choose the order that the images and artefacts were viewed in your own time. The photographer, Gary Suson, came in towards the end of our visit and was extremely friendly and approachable - this absolutely made the visit. Very poignant but something that none of us should ever forget. The intricate detail of the images and artefacts brought home to us all the scale and impact of the events of 9/11 to a degree that we had not appreciated before. A must for your visit to New York!

this museum wasn't what we expected - a very small space with lots of photos and artifacts scattered around. but it packs more emotion per square foot than probably any other site in New York City. there are a hundred stories to hear, some you may know already, others that are new, the occasional uplifting or even humorous account, and stories that will break your heart. a very human and touching experience, and one you won't find anywhere else. highly recommended.

Beautifully presented, excellent guide, well worth a visit.