World Trade Center steel nearly gone

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey oversees an artifact program that distributes recovered debris to memorials and museums.

By Associated Press

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Photo: Associated Press

A beam of World Trade Center steel stands at the National September 11 Memorial Museum's Foundation Hall in New York

In an airplane hangar at New York's Kennedy Airport, fewer than 30 pieces of steel remain from the debris recovered after terrorists flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center's twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001. Even 14 years after the attacks, applications are still pending for the pieces of metal—mostly for memorials and museum exhibits—and some pieces found a new home as recently as last week in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Florida.

Here's a look at what has become of the relics of the World Trade Center:

How much steel?

Beginning in August 1968, builders used 200,000 tons of steel to build the World Trade Center complex, enough to raise the twin towers to heights of 1,362 feet (south tower) and 1,368 feet (north tower). Out of 1.8 million tons of debris removed from the site after the attacks, recovery workers collected 840 pieces of steel, some of which were cut up to make a total of 2,200 separate items. They ranged from 6-inch slabs to massive beams to the 7.5 tons the Navy used in the construction of the warship USS New York.

Where did it go?

The artifacts can be found anchoring memorials or museum exhibits in all 50 states and eight countries: Germany, Canada, Brazil, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, China and Ireland. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey oversees the artifact program, reviewing applications and parceling out the steel and other items to about 1,500 individual nonprofit groups, governments or museums so far. The artifact must be available for the public to view it.

How much is left?

Fewer than 30 pieces of steel, including pieces of rail tracks, remain. Fewer than 70 other artifacts such as clothing or toys also remain in Hangar 17 at Kennedy Airport.

Are items still being sought?

Yes. Thirty applications are pending approval, and 40 others are in the review process. Even as recently as last week, an 8-foot-long, 1,100-pound steel beam arrived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, while other pieces were distributed to Ware, Massachusetts, and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida during August. The Ware Fire Department is building a second memorial using trade center artifacts. It received a 1,600-pound piece of steel in August that will be used in a memorial that is still being discussed. At the space center, the beam will be the centerpiece of a permanent memorial at Fire Station No. 1. That memorial includes small-scale replicas of the twin towers.

Was any of the steel recycled or discarded?

No. The Port Authority's mission was to preserve the artifacts and distribute them to worthy groups to memorialize the attacks.

Spyderco World Trade Center Fundraising Knife Project: Knife with WTC steel and Presentation Box

Number 612 (of 2819), this is a Spyderco World Trade Center knife.  A special tribute and fundraising effort, it incorporates WTC steel in the Twin Towers silhouette on the handle.
Info from Spyderco's website about this knife:
Spyderco's World Trade Center Fundraising Knife Project began when Spyderco's owners and employees deeply wanted to contribute to a cause we felt strongly about -- helping the surviving families of the fire and police personnel that perished on September 11, 2001. A commendable outlet for doing just that was the New York Police and Fire Widow's and Children's Benefit Fund*. At the project's inception unique challenges were met by a number of same-feeling people who made it all happen. In honor of the fallen members of the Saving And Serving community we designed a variation of a sheepfoot rescue model with our new Ball Bearing Lock set in a black FRN handle. There are a total of 2819 numbered pieces, one for every life lost that day. Making the knife extraordinary is an inlay of the Twin Towers skyline cut from a steel girder retrieved from World Trade Center Tower One it is set flush into the handle. The knife is presented in a custom box of cocobolo wood. $225. per knife with all profits going to the New York Police and Fire Widow's and Children's Benefit Fund. Our gratitude for those who are helping us make this a reality.

• Police Lt. John McArdle (NYPD)
• Police Officer Jerome Kazlauskas (NYPD)
• Police Officer Jerome Maier (NYPD)
• Police Officer Juan Gonzalez (NYPD)
• Jeff Silman
• Police Officer John D'Allara and Family New York
• Judd Evans, Evergreen, CO
• Joe Rogers, Rogers Wire EDM Service, Arvada, CO
• Darrell Lewis, Bodycote Metallurgical Coatings, Greensboro, NC
• The Spyderco Crew, Golden, CO

*This charity is an IRS Section 501c(3) corporation. The charity has annual Certified Financial Statements from Grant Thornton CPA's filed with the New York State Department of State. The Tax ID number is 13-33440675. The charity has less than 2% expenses, does not use professional fundraisers, and relies on active volunteer committee to raise funds. 
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Cantor Fitzgerald Commemorative WTC Steel

Cantor Fitzgerald and bgc commemorative box with world trade center steel.  This special tribute was given to employees.  I'm not exactly sure how many were created or distributed, but this is a striking 9/11 example from corporate America.  The steel cube weighs about one pound.  

Cantor Fitzgerald's corporate headquarters and New York City office,[7][8] on the 101st-105th floors of One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan (2-6 floors above the impact zone of a hijacked airliner), were destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attacks. Seconds after Cantor's building was struck by the plane, a Goldman Sachs server issued an alert saying that its trading system had gone offline because it wasn't able to connect with a Cantor server.[9][10][11] Cantor Fitzgerald lost over two-thirds of its workforce, considerably more than any of the other World Trade Center tenants or the New York City Police Department and New York City Fire Department. CEO and chairman Howard Lutnick, whose brother was among those killed, vowed to keep the company alive, and the company was able to bring its trading markets back online within a week. On September 19, Cantor Fitzgerald made a pledge to distribute 25 percent of the firm's profits for the next five years, and committed to paying for ten years of health care, for the benefit of the families of its 658 former Cantor Fitzgerald, eSpeed, and TradeSpark employees (profits which would otherwise have been distributed to the Cantor Fitzgerald partners).[12] In 2006, the company completed its promise, having paid a total of $180 million[12] (and an additional $17 million from a relief fund run by Lutnick's sister, Edie).[13]

Before the attacks, Cantor handled about one-quarter of the daily transactions in the multi-trillion dollar treasury security market. Cantor has since rebuilt its infrastructure, thanks in part to the efforts of its London office,[14] and now has its headquarters in midtown Manhattan. The company's effort to regain its footing is the subject of Tom Barbash's 2003 book On Top of the World: Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick, and 9/11: A Story of Loss and Renewal.

Hats Off September 11th Collection

I will not be purchasing these hats, but this is of interest. There are three ships in production that will incorporate steel from the WTC. This company is offering hats related to these ships:

“ The courage and heroism of the people aboard those flights, and in the Pentagon, will never be forgotten by the American people, and as these ships engage in combating terrorism, they will leave a legacy that will never be forgotten by those wishing to do harm to this country.” – Gordon England, Navy Secretary

The USS New York (LPD 21) Never Forget, USS Arlington (LPD 24), and USS Somerset (LPD 25) are being built and commissioned by the US Navy to honor the sites involved in the September 11th tragedy. Approximately twenty-four tons of steel from the World Trade Center towers will be used to form the bow-stern (or the foremost section of the hull) of the USS New York. Once the USS New York is commissioned, the Never Forget will be replaced with the hull number (LPD 21). This will be the fifth vessel to bear the name USS New York.

The USS Arlington will be named in honor of the Pentagon, which is located in Arlington, Virginia. The USS Somerset will be named in honor of the county in Pennsylvania, the third crash site in the September 11th hijacking. Both the USS Arlington and the USS Somerset will be the third vessels to bear each name. As the eighth and ninth of the San Antonio class, the ships will be amphibious transport docks. Each will have a crew of 363 people and will be capable of carrying 699 Marines.

To commemorate the commissioning of these ships, Hats Off would like to offer a September 11th hat collection. These hats are the same hats that will be worn by the crew aboard these ships. The hats are made from a navy blue, wool blend material. Directly embroidered on the hat is a red and grey ship silhouette, as well as the ships’ name and hull number in yellow-gold. Hats Off is proud to say that these hats are made in the USA. Limited quantities are available.

Created With Steel From the World Trade Center

This steel plaque depicts the Twin Towers and relates that it is cast from steel from the World Trade Center. It is not clear to me who created this tribute medal, but it is a very unique object. There are definitely other tribute items that were created form actual WTC steel, but they are few in number. I have posted another tribute plaque that may make such a claim. There is no questioning the above plaque's claim of being cast with WTC steel, especially since it is cast (or engraved) on the backside. Supposedly this plaque was very limited and given to families of the victims of 9/11.

This is an object meant for those who want to connect with WTC and September 11th. What better way to feel a connection than owning your own object created with actual steel from Towers 1 and 2. A very simple object with a powerful message and association. Also, it offers a strong motivation for buyers. I have seen this object listed for as much as $1000. I'm sure people paid that much. Not me of course.

Commerative Plaque

Not much to comment about this limited edition plaque. The question of use does arise about this object. What does someone do with a commemorative plaque such as this? Is there a religious element to this? Does someone have this plaque as a part of their tribute or shrine to September 11th? As I recall when I purchased this object, the plaque was maufactured from WTC steel. How do you verify such a claim? A certificate of authenticity could be there way of providing proof, but it isn't clear to me that this is there reason (or claim) for the certificate.