Hard to argue 9/11 isn't about money: 9/11 Museum to Charge $24 Admission Fee

Crain's reported that the 9/11 Museum will charge a $24 admission fee.  This isn't a shock, and you can read the article about their reason (fee will fill a gap for operating).  I fully support this approach, and it is completely justified (and needed).  But, I do think there is a bigger implication.  This approach and the way the Museum is being positioned clearly demonstrate that 9/11 has become monetized.  On the surface, the Museum is about memory and mourning, but it has taken on a life as an economic force.  The 9/11 Museum will have economic impact.  You know this is part of the backroom discussions (it always was and will be).  9/11 will drive admission sales and gift shop sales.  And restaurant sales and hotel overnights and taxi fares and so on.  The Memorial already has this impact.  The 9/11 Museum, through no fault of its own, has further developed 9/11 into a revenue generating force.  In a way, this is a culmination of the material culture response that I relate through my collection here.  Although the Museum will display objects related to the actual event, the Museum will also feature the material culture that developed around 9/11.  And many of these items were tied directly to sales and consumerism, which I've highlighted here.  Ironically, the 9/11 Museum's Gift Shop now perpetuates this phenomena.  I always know that if I really want to look for new examples to add to my collection, I can always visit the 9/11 Gift Shop. 

Visit to 9/11 Memorial

Pictures from my visit to the 9/11 Memorial back on June 10th.  The pictures also feature George William Morrel, brother of our good friend Cathy Raddatz.  The Memorial and reflecting pools are really quite striking and a must-see for anyone going to NYC.  You will also see the shiny, wavy-looking building in one of the pictures.  This building will be the September 11th Museum, which is slated to open in 2014.  We also had the pleasure of meeting with some Museum staff to discuss their 9/11 collecting efforts.  It was really a memorable trip.

9/11 Museum Will Charge Admission Fee

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."

Museum of Science and Technology 9/11 Exhibit

I'm finally posting some pictures I took of a small September 11th exhibit at the MOST in Syracuse.  This exhibit was during the 10th Anniversary of September 11th, and featured collections from the NYS Museum in Albany.