Ground Zero Museum Workshop

This museum is a must! Seeing ground zero and the reflecting pools means so much more when you get to see what it was like immediately after the attacks. It brings home to you just what the men and women went through during that time, much more than just seeing it on the local news.

This was one of our most favorite things we did in New York. We would very highly recommend this tour as a must do. Very informative and most memorable.

This is not actually at Ground Zero but rather a 1 room private museum by a photographer who was there. There are about 100 items with half being photo's and the rest being items from the ground zero site. Each item is numbered and there is a audio tour where you can hear the story behind each item. Takes about 2 hours. While the items are interesting, it is difficult to ignore that the whole museum is just an ego trip for the photographer. You will hear his name 50 times over the 2 hours and the "gift shop" just happens to have photo books signed by him. He is actually there so you can thank him personally! They do mention that a portion of the museum fees go to ground zero charities but this is definately a business. I think the photographer is milking it for all it's worth. If you can ignore the ego trip of the photographer you may find this ground zero museum quite interesting.

ground zero museum is an amazingly small museum but is the most moving museum around. It takes you right into the heart of 9/11. I doubt that anyone can come away from this museum without shedding a tear

Our contry is not USA but our heart cries with yours.

Even though the museum seemed small, there was quite a bit of information to absorb. It really describes the search efforts on Ground Zero and what those workers went through. I had a lump in my throat the whole time - all of the stories were moving. I would reccomend this to anyone who loves history. We also got an opportunity to meet the photographer. This was a real treat. I did not give it 5 stars, because 2 hours was not enough to go through the entire musuem.

We attended the workshop on a busy Saturday. It is in a small room in the Meatpacking District. Make sure you take the address as it is fairly unnoticeable from the outside. The experience is solemn in that you come face-to-face with so many artifacts from the tragedy (including a piece of one of the aircrafts and glass from the towers). The extraordinary courage and dedication of all involved in the recovery effort really shines through in Gary Suson's poignant photography. He also provides the excellent commentary to the exhibits on the audio tour. The one thing that irked me is that the place is steeped in religious symbolism and commentary. For example, photographs of chaplains and religious symbols are shown and explained throughout. This I think is due to the sheer weight of the tragedy and people wanting to make sense out of it. However, religious brainwashing and extremism caused that fateful day and the last thing the world needs is more religious brainwashing as a solution. I think the museum does enough without this religious baggage. It is gratuitous and self-defeating as ultimately that day showed the failure of religion and the need to replace it with a clearer, more humanistic, progressive way of thinking that is based on facts not fiction.

While the artifacts and photographs were excellent, $25/person seems a bit steep considering the museum is a non-profit. It was nice that the photographs were narrated and things in the museum were well displayed.

The narrator said we could touch anything, and then there were signs that said not to touch ?

Very interesting to look at all the photos and hear the stories behind them

A very heartfelt and personal experience. Gave us a good account of what it was like during 9/11 and the recovery time. Enjoyed the artifacts that were on display, it really gave you a connection to the lives of families involved. It was not actually at Ground Zero location, but at location of photographer. Definitely would recommend.

Not at all what we expected. I expected the museum to have more impact and emotion but it was all a bit flat. Lots of artifacts and anecdotes but in a small room and somewhat jumbled displays. At $50 plus booking fee we felt it was overpriced and basic, but I guess its one of the things we had planned to do!!

I cannot express in enough words this one place must be attended while in NY, especially before going to the site at "Ground Zero" is this Ground Zero Museum Workshop Tour to really understand the devastation and the reaction of those involved in anyway in 9/11. The opportunity to actually hear (through head phones linked to each picture) the photographer, Gary Suson narrate in his own words where and why he took the pictures during the clean up at Ground Zero left me with such a deeper understanding of what took place. He spoke with passion and concern of what his mission was to express through his pictures. The many items displayed from the actual clean up he had collected just made me feel the destruction and the emptiness of seeing them, never to be claimed by their owners. I will never forget the whole presentation, because of the content and the sensitivity of the personnel in explaining what this "tour" was all about. My advice is see this first, then go to the actual site, you will not regret it. Grace Fortuna

My husband, our adult daughter and I planned visiting the Ground Zero Museum Workshop into our NYC experience during our week long visit to the area, and could not have been more satisfied. The presentations were very moving, and the sensitivity of the photographer comes through clearly. The horror of what happened ten short years ago is something that should never be forgotten, but the healing focus of this museum workshop is evident in that the tone is not inflammatory, but rather factual in a way that makes the whole experience redemptive, aiding in the healing of a still sorrowing nation. I am so grateful for the skillful effort and thoughtfulness that went into forming this experience-I can not recommend visiting this museum workshop more highly-it is a much more personal experience and doesn't have a corporate feel about it what so ever. The staff was professional yet kind and respectful, and booking was easy, the instructions were clear, the location even held meaning I hadn't realized. Thanks again!

Our visit to the Ground Zero Museum Workshop has been a highlight of our NYC experience. I was initially surprised by the size of the "museum" ...possibly expecting something way larger ....however, the size lends itself to the intimate atmosphere which, at the end of the day, is it's advantage over similar sites. We were fortunate enough to meet Mr Suson, which gave the experience a personal touch. He was charming. As Australians, we had no appreciation for the magnitude of the recovery effort. The personal stories behind each & every image and artifact were so incredibly moving. It's a "not for profit" museum which supports 9/11 victims and families so supporting it's operations is of even greater importance. I cannot recommend this tour more highly. Take your tissues.