This recent news seems relevant to my collection and postings here. I definitely think the Museum should charge a fee, which is needed to help support operations. There is a cost to doing business as a Museum, and if someone else doesn't want to write the check, the Museum will have to earn revenue through fees to cover expenses and keep its doors open for the people. Of course, the Museum continues to partner with different companies to create consumer goods that people can purchase and direct a "portion of the proceeds" to the Museum (see some of my latest additions- Brooks Brothers tie, Palmer Paints, etc), so they are no stranger to earned revenue.
New York (CNN) --
Some families of 9/11 victims are outraged over the National September 11 Memorial Museum's decision to charge admission for visitors.
Sally Regenhard, assistant chairwoman of the group 9/11 Parents and Families of Firefighters and WTC Victims, called the fee a "slap in the face" on Sunday.
"Patriotic people from all corners of the country go to teach their children something and show respect, and now they will be faced with this fee? It is outrageous," she said.
"This feeds the idea of New York City being money-hungry. It is taking advantage of tourists," Regenhard said. "Making people pay to grieve is going to prevent people from paying their respects and learn about the victims."
9/11 Memorial communications manager Anthony Guido said that an exact price has not yet been set, but it will range from $20 to $25. Family members of 9/11 victims are exempt from all memorial-museum fees and charges, Guido said. The museum will open in 2014.
According to Guido, 9/11 museum officials looked to other institutions in the country for guidance on admission charges, such as the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, which charges $12 for adults.
The memorial-museum declined to comment on Regenhard's statements.
But not all family members of 9/11 victims agree with Regenhard.
Charles Wolf told CNN affiliate WCBS: "I think if it's necessary, they need to do it, because I want this museum to be good. We've taken a horrible, horrible disaster -- in which my wife was lost -- and we're making it better."
