WVU Libraries is excited to announce its participation in September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World, a downloadable educational exhibition that presents the history of 9/11, its origins, and its ongoing implications through the personal stories of those who witnessed and survived the attacks. Told across 14 posters, this exhibition includes archival photographs and images of artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection. It explores the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and communities at the local, national, and international levels, and encourages critical thinking about the legacies of 9/11.
The exhibition will be on view in the Evansdale Library on the first and second floors through the fall semester.
Twenty years after the attacks, with terrorism still a threat today, the events of 9/11 and its aftermath remind us that we may never be able to prevent all the actions of people intent on harming others, but we do have control over how we respond to such events. Whether by volunteering in our local communities, serving our nation in the military, caring for the sick, or through other efforts, all of us can help build the world in which we want to live. As we witness history unfolding in our own time, the ways we choose to respond—both large and small—can demonstrate the best of human nature after even the worst of days.
This 9/11 Memorial & Museum curated exhibition reflects the core pillars of commemoration, education, and inspiration as we prepare to observe the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
“During this 20th anniversary year, it is our privilege to share these lessons with a new generation, teach them about the ongoing repercussions of the 9/11 attacks and inspire them with the idea that, even in the darkest of times, we can come together, support one another and find the strength to renew and rebuild,” said 9/11 Memorial & Museum President and CEO Alice M. Greenwald.
The poster exhibition was developed by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National endowment for Humanities.
For questions or more information on this Exhibition, please visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum website or contact them at: press@911memorial.org.
Educators - these plans can be found on the National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Homepage under the link Learn.
College Level/Adult Programming - Click on Past Public Programs to review the complete list of videos and discussions. These are just a few of the available offerings.
From director Sara Colangelo and writer/producer Max Borenstein, “Worth” tells the story of Kenneth Feinberg (played by Academy Award nominee Michael Keaton), who was appointed by Congress to oversee the U.S. government’s September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Actor Laura Benanti, 9/11 family member and activist Charles Wolf, and Feinberg’s colleague Camille Biros joins Colangelo, Borenstein, Feinberg, and Keaton in a lively discussion as they reflect upon the process of sharing this complex story 20 years after the attacks. The panel will be moderated by National September 11 Memorial & Museum Deputy Director for Museum Programs Clifford Chanin. This program is presented in partnership with Netflix.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum has partnered with The HISTORY Channel to produce a documentary film which provides a sweeping account of the events that led to the discovery of Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and the raid which resulted in his death. In advance of the film being released on May 2, 2021, exactly 10 years after the raid, Robert M. Gates, then secretary of defense, and Leon E. Panetta, then director of the CIA, discuss how policy, intelligence, and military decision-making converged during the hunt for bin Laden.
Al-Qaeda’s Next Leader? Ali Soufan, former FBI special agent and now chairman and chief executive officer of The Soufan Group, shares what is known about Saif al-`Adl and discusses the future of al-Qaeda.
Joana Cook is a senior research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London. Her new book, A Woman's Place: U.S. Counterterrorism Since 9/11, explores the significant role of women in key U.S. national security agencies. Cook also considers how women in al-Qaeda and ISIS have influenced the evolution of these terrorist movements.
Webinars and Live Streaming Event
9/11 Memorial and Museum: Anniversary in the Schools Webinar 20th Anniversary live program - link provides free registration for this live program.
Webinar Stories collection of recordings from previous years. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers a collection of first-person accounts of the attacks and their aftermath as a part of the annual Anniversary in the Schools program. Individual stories are categorized by speaker type and video type below. Each video includes discussion questions to use while viewing.
Lesson Plans
Educators, due to the nature of the events on 9/11/01 it is highly recommended you review the lessons with regard to your students’ mental health. Particularly considering the impact COVID-19.
Grades 3-5
Essential Question: What is a hero and how can people show gratitude to those who act heroically in their own communities?
Essential Question: How has lower Manhattan changed over time?
Grades 6 to 12
Essential Question: How can art convey meaning in the immediate aftermath of a tragic event?
Grades 9-12
Essential Question: Can a memorial to a tragic event serve as both a public space and a place of remembrance?