The museum at Ground Zero tells the dark story of the 9/11 terror attacks with spectacular artifacts and exhibits. It pays heart-wrenching tribute to the innocents and heroes killed that day.
It also has a gift shop.
The 9/11 museum’s cavernous boutique offers a vast array of souvenir goods. For example: FDNY, NYPD and Port Authority Police T-shirts ($22) and caps ($19.95); earrings molded from leaves and blossoms of downtown trees ($20 to $68); cop and firefighter charms by Pandora and other jewelers ($65); “United We Stand” blankets.
There are bracelets, bowls, buttons, mugs, mousepads, magnets, key chains, flags, pins, stuffed animals, toy firetrucks, cellphone cases, tote bags, books and DVDs.
After paying $24 admission for adults, $18 for seniors and students, and $15 for kids 7 to 17, visitors can shop till they drop.
“To me, it’s the crassest, most insensitive thing to have a commercial enterprise at the place where my son died,” Diane Horning said.
She and husband Kurt never recovered the remains of their son Matthew, 26, a database administrator for Marsh & McLennan and aspiring guitarist.
About 8,000 unidentified body parts are now stored out of sight in a “remains repository” at the museum’s underground home.
“Here is essentially our tomb of the unknown. To sell baubles I find quite shocking and repugnant,” said Horning, who also objects to the museum cafe.
“I think it’s a money-making venture to support inflated salaries, and they’re willing to do it over my son’s dead body.”
Among the museum shop’s specially designed items:
- A black and white “Darkness Hoodie” printed with an image of the Twin Towers. The pullover, like other “Darkness” items, bears the words “In Darkness We Shine Brightest.” Price: $39.
- Silk scarves printed with 1986 photos by Paula Barr, including a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. Another depicts “lunchtime on the WTC Plaza.” They go for $95 each.
- ”Survivor Tree” earrings, named after a pear tree that stood in the World Trade Center plaza and survived 9/11. Made of bronze and freshwater pearls, a pair costs $64. A leaf ornament molded from the swamp white oaks at the memorial is said to change from amber to dark brown “and sometimes pink around the time of the 9/11 anniversary.”
- Heart-shaped rocks inscribed with slogans such as “United in Hope” and “Honor.” One rock bears a quote by Virgil that is emblazoned on a massive blue-tiled wall in the museum: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.” It costs $39.
Read more at the New York Post.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
As “crass” or insensitive as it may be, a gift shop may the highest form of showing our resilience to anti-western ideology. The almighty dollar is what paid for this museum after all.
ridiculous! have the gift shop a few doors down cuz this is really insensitive in my opinion even without knowing anyone personally who perished that day in the terrible tragedy.
Stam gedreit a kop!
The museum was expensive to build – as was the freedom tower etc. If this pays a teeny bit towards it, instead of hiking our tolls even more, then it’s what has to be done. I do not see how it’s insensitive.
Sad story, but a museum usually has a gift shop, many might want a personal connection and it also raises money to keep the museum operation open and ready.
So this does not seem to bother me. Perhaps I have to visit.
But when you have a gift shop, you have to hire and pay the employees, with all their “Holidays”, “sick leave”, “maternity leave”, etc…! Its a lose lose situation for the dumb stupid taxpayer! The less City Employees, the better!
I wonder how much they sell a shot glass for.
Don’t see the problem either. The museum is currently waaay underfunded. And the merchandise sold seems a way to keep the patriotic feeling going–is that a bad thing?
Can a Kohein go into that museum?
I can totally relate to this woman’s pain. Does anyone know that there is a gift shop in Auschwitz, too? If they were selling informative memorabilia, nu. But to sell pop gifts and to make 9/11 T-shirts is, in my opinion, disgusting.
What would you think of a gift shop in Auschwitz?
Offensive is not the word. Think about it.