On 21 March, Pat Clarke’s SWS class, New York City: Urban Studies took a trip into the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero. As a class, the students decided that they wanted to devote time to looking at the history of the Twin Towers and what happened on 9/11. Through a variety of readings and documentaries, the class became familiar with how the Port Authority eventually decided to build the world’s tallest buildings. Additionally, students confronted the brutal realities of what happened on 9/11, trying to process why the attacks occurred and the impact they had on New York City, the country and the world.

The day of the trip was rainy and gloomy. However, the experience of visiting hallowed ground and the museum was enlightening. For our students, who were all born after the attacks, the museum brought this relatively recent history to life. They were moved by the stories and the intimate portraits that the museum has so carefully curated. Although it was a somber day, the students came away with a much better understanding of this essential piece of New York City history.

[Thank you to Pat Clarke for the write-up and the photos.]