FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The National Museum of the United States Army is commemorating the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, with a new special exhibition and a weekend of commemorative public programs for visitors to remember, reflect and explore how the U.S. Army responded in the wake of a national tragedy. The Army Historical Foundation will also host a 9/11 Honor Walk on the Museum campus, September 11–13, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Steel and Stone: Engineering the Response to 9/11 recounts the U.S. Army's role in the response and recovery efforts that followed the attacks on New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Through personal accounts and powerful artifacts, the exhibition highlights how U.S. Army engineers responded with speed and determination amid chaos and devastation. Historical documentation, engineering plans, photographs, and recovered artifacts showcase the Army Corps of Engineers’ critical role in the recovery efforts at Ground Zero in New York City and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Among the exhibition's most significant artifacts is the massive U.S. flag that was unfurled over the Pentagon’s damaged west wall the day after the attacks, serving as a powerful symbol of resilience and national unity. Now folded, the flag still bears soot stains from where it rubbed against the building. This U.S. Army artifact is on special display in the Museum Lobby and will join the Steel and Stone exhibit on the Museum’s third floor on September 12.
In further recognition, throughout the weekend, September 11-13, visitors are invited to participate in commemorative programs at America’s Army Museum, including creating paper flowers for a remembrance display and visiting the outdoor display of three large pieces of stone recovered from the Pentagon that stand center at the Museum’s Warriors’ Plaza and positioned in the same geospatial orientation as they were on the morning of September 11, 2001.
The Army Historical Foundation’s 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Honor Walk, September 11–13, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., is an outdoor experience on the Museum campus that invites visitors to pause, reflect and honor the lives lost, the courage of first responders, and the service and sacrifice that followed. Each walker will receive a lanyard and commemorative badge that can be personalized in someone’s memory.
Visitors can also see and experience additional 9/11 artifacts and Soldiers Stories shared in the Museum's permanent Changing World and Army and Society galleries, which chronicles the chapter of Army servicethat followed September 11, 2001.
The Museum is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and these activities are included in the Museum’s free admission. To learn more about how the Museum is commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, visit the NMUSA website's Remembering 9/11 page.
In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief Historian Dr. John Lonnquest reflects on the USACE response to the tragedy through the National Museum of the United States Army’s newest exhibit, "Steel and Stone: Engineering the Response to 9/11." The exhibit traces the minutes, days, and months following Sept. 11, 2001, and details how USACE mobilized with speed and purpose to support recovery and help rebuild after tragedy. U.S. Army video by Thomas Deaton.
About the National Museum of the United States Army
The National Museum of the United States Army provides the only comprehensive portrayal of Army history and traditions through the eyes of the American Soldier. By preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting invaluable artifacts, the National Army Museum creates learning opportunities for all visitors and bonds the American people to their oldest military service. We are America’s Army Museum. The U.S. Army owns and operates the Museum.
The Army Historical Foundation continues its fundraising role in support of the Museum and manages all retail, catering, and special events. For more information on the National Museum of the United States Army, visit www.theNMUSA.org.
About The Army Historical Foundation
The Army Historical Foundation establishes, assists, and promotes programs and projects that preserve the history of the American Soldier and promote public understanding of and appreciation for the contributions by all components of the U.S. Army and its members.
The Foundation serves as the Army’s official fundraising entity for the Capital Campaign for the National Museum of the United States Army. The award-winning, LEED-certified Museum opened on November 11, 2020, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and honors the service and sacrifice of all American Soldiers who have served since the Army’s inception in 1775. For more information on the Foundation and the National Museum of the United States Army, visit www.armyhistory.org.
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