Smithsonian marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a display of rare artifacts
PUBLISHED Sep 10, 2026, 3:31 PM ET
The Smithsonian Institution is marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks by exhibiting rare and fragile artifacts at the National Museum of American History in Washington. The temporary display features dozens of personal items, including seat belts and a flight attendant call button from United Airlines Flight 93, a recovered wallet and purse from the World Trade Center site, and the desk telephone used by former Solicitor General Ted Olson. Museum Director Anthea Hartig stated that the exhibit allows visitors to connect personally with the historic tragedy as a new generation emerges without direct memory of the events. Running through Saturday, the exhibition highlights these delicate objects on open tables rather than behind glass cases. This commemorative display coincides with growing scrutiny from federal lawmakers regarding how the institution curates and presents American history to the public.
By Ayesha A. | JQJO News
- Articles Published:
- 53
- Right Leaning:
- 1
- Left Leaning:
- 3
- Neutral:
- 49
- Distribution:
- Left 6%, Center 92%, Right 2%
Left: Emphasizes emotional resonance, generational remembrance, and institutional public value. Center: Focuses strictly on historical commemoration, artifact preservation, and public education. Right: Highlights political oversight, federal scrutiny, and congressional debates over history curation.
Smithsonian displays rare artifacts marking twenty fifth anniversary of September 11. https://apnews.com/article/smithsonian-september-11-anniversary-artifacts-dc789123b456
Coverage of Story:
From Left
A Quarter-Century Later, Smithsonian Displays Searing 9/11 Artifacts
The New York Times NBC News The AtlanticFrom Center
Smithsonian marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a display of rare artifacts
Associated Press Reuters NPR The Washington Post Wall Street Journal USA Today Politico Chicago Tribune The Hill Time Newsweek Bloomberg Axios Financial Times Forbes San Francisco Chronicle Houston Chronicle Miami Herald Seattle Times Dallas Morning News Detroit Free Press The Arizona Republic Star Tribune The Plain Dealer Baltimore Sun St. Louis Post-Dispatch The Oregonian Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sacramento Bee Kansas City Star Indianapolis Star Charlotte Observer Orlando Sentinel San Antonio Express-News The Columbus Dispatch The Oklahoman The Des Moines Register Omaha World-Herald Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The Providence Journal The Record Hartford Courant The Courier-Journal The Tennessean The Commercial Appeal Austin American-Statesman The Fresno Bee The News & Observer The Idaho StatesmanFrom Right
Smithsonian puts 9/11 artifacts on temporary display for 25th anniversary
The Washington Times
Comments