HANGAR 17 AND THE HUMANITY OF PRESERVATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
THE 9/11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM EXPLORES HANGAR 17 AND THE HUMANITY OF PRESERVATION
Experts reflect on the extraordinary effort to recover, safeguard, and honor the material remnants of 9/11
New York, NY – In the days and months following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the 16-acre World Trade Center site became both a scene of devastating loss and an epicenter of extraordinary care. Amid the recovery and search for victims, a quieter mission took shape: identifying, preserving, and protecting the physical remnants of that day - approximately 1.8 million tons of building materials filled the World Trade Center site.
To reflect on this profound effort, on October 29 the 9/11 Memorial & Museum presented Documenting Destruction: The Story of Hangar 17, a public program that brought together key figures who helped steward the artifacts of Ground Zero. The program speakers included Amory Houghton III, former Port Authority project manager; Mark Wagner, architect; and Steven Weintraub, founder and principal of Art Preservation Services. The discussion will be moderated by Clifford Chanin, Director of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
Throughout the Ground Zero recovery process, Hangar 17 at JFK International Airport became an unlikely sanctuary repository where thousands of artifacts were carefully cataloged, studied, and preserved. Within its vast space, steel columns stood beside crushed vehicles, and personal effects lay alongside architectural fragments, each object silently testifying to the lives and structures they once composed.
“Hangar 17 was more than a storage facility,” said Clifford Chanin. “It became a space of reverence and responsibility where those who worked there balanced their professional duty with deep human compassion. Every object carried a story, and those stories became the foundation for the Museum’s mission to remember and to educate.”
Over time, the work at Hangar 17 evolved into a collective act of remembrance, ensuring that the physical evidence of 9/11 would be preserved not as debris, but as history. The efforts of curators, engineers, and conservators transformed remnants of tragedy into symbols of endurance and empathy.
“The task was technical, but the experience was profoundly human,” said Amory Houghton III, former Port Authority Project Manager. “Each artifact we handled represented a life, a moment, or a memory. We were constantly aware that our work was not just about preservation—it was about respect.”
Today, many of the artifacts once housed in Hangar 17 reside in the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, where they educate and inspire millions of visitors each year. Through this conversation, the participants revisit the emotional and ethical dimensions of that extraordinary project, and how a global tragedy was preserved with humanity and care.
This program is part of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s ongoing public programming series, which explores the enduring impacts of 9/11 through conversations that highlight memory, resilience, and the many ways people continue to find meaning in its aftermath. Programs are available both in person and online during the Spring and Fall seasons. More information about this free series can be found here.
###
ABOUT THE 9/11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the country’s principal institution concerned with exploring 9/11, documenting its impact, and examining its continuing significance. This mission is advanced through commemoration, education, and inspiration. Located on eight of the 16 acres of the World Trade Center site, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum remembers and honors the 2,983 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. Through exhibitions, a wide variety of programs, and commemorative events, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum seeks to educate the public – particularly the 100 million Americans born since the attacks – about the consequences of terrorism and its impact on individuals and communities. Through preserving and sharing stories of resilience, compassion, and courage, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum hopes to inspire individuals to build a more compassionate and secure world. For more information or to reserve a ticket to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, please visit 911memorial.org.