A museum commemorating the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania is opening its doors. Survivors, victims' relatives, rescue workers, and others directly affected by the tragedy will be the first to visit the museum this week before it opens to the general public on May 21. The museum and memorial complex, located at the former site of the Twin Towers in New York City, incorporates familiar photos and videos of the attacks and their aftermath, as well as many artifacts that are on public display for the first time.
National September 11 Memorial & Museum Opens In New York

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A video of a victim of the September 11th attacks is seen next to the Last Column, a steel beam recovered from World Trade Center site and inscribed with memorials to the rescue workers.

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Visitors walk by projections of videos from September 11, 2001.

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A destroyed antenna from the North Tower of the World Trade Center

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Pictures of the September 11th hijackers

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Salvaged beams, called tridents, from the World Trade Center

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The base of one of the salvaged tridents

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A video of the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York

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The "Survivors' Stairs," a remnant of a staircase that was the route to safety for many people in the World Trade Center at the time of the attack

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A fire truck of the New York Fire Department that was used in the rescue effort

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An exhibit of artifacts from the years following the September 11 attacks

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Part of the historical exhibit in the 9/11 museum

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Photos, cards, and memorials to victims of the attacks

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The "Last Column" of the World Trade Center, inscribed with the names of police and fire departments that took part in the rescue efforts

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A memorial wall featuring panels for the 2,983 victims of the attacks