Parkland Library | World Trade Center Artifact

Shortly after the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, then Vice-Mayor, presently Mayor, Robert Marks contacted New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani about acquiring some pieces of the World Trade Center for use in Parkland municipal buildings. His goal was to show unity, the undefeatable spirit of the American people, and that our commitment to freedom and democracy can never be destroyed. Just as libraries record the past and inspire the future, so does the piece shown here record an event in history and reach toward new beginnings.

Parkland artist Anthony Michael uses a sunrise for the background of a New York skyline mural as a symbol of each new day’s promise at dawn in spite of what may have come the day before. The grid in the foreground resembles the lower floors of the Twin Towers. Since only a small number of other cities in the United States received similar artifacts, the Parkland Library is honored to be able to provide this rare public access. We do not know the original location of this piece of steel beam. It was dedicated on September 11, 2003.

September 11th Memorial: Historical Documents