D.C. Museum Putting WTC Antenna In Storage Instead Of Giving It To 9/11 Museum

Gothamist ^ | 10/22/19 | Andy Mai

[yesthatjallen]

The top section of the antenna from the North Tower of the World Trade Center which had been on display at a Washington D.C. museum is being put in storage—instead of going to National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in Manhattan.

The 360-foot antenna carried the signal of most of New York City’s television broadcasters and a few radio stations, including WNYC. Since 2008, a section of it has been part of the Newseum's September 11th exhibit, which also includes newspaper headlines and videos.

But the Newseum, whose mission was to "increase public understanding of the importance of a free press and the First Amendment," is closing at the end of December due to ongoing financial issues. A spokesperson said artifacts on loan will be returned to owners, and pieces from its permanent collection—including the antenna—will be stored at their archive facility in the D.C. suburbs until a new home is determined.

However, when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey donated that top section of the antenna in 2015, the agency specified that it, like all 9/11 objects they donated around the country, must be displayed in a public place—which is why one piece is now at an outdoor museum in Ohio, and another section is at Fulton Community College near Albany.

SNIP

[yesthatjallen]

[PeterPrinciple]

But the Newseum, whose mission was to “increase public understanding of the importance of a free press and the First Amendment,” is closing at the end of December due to ongoing financial issues.

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Why would it be donated to this “Newseum” in the first place?

[PeterPrinciple]

https://www.newseum.org/

[bicyclerepair]

Melt that scrap down. And use it for something useful.

[PeterPrinciple]

The Newseum Deserves to Die

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/08/29/newseum-journalism-artifacts-failure-215554

[PeterPrinciple]

Newseum exhibits often resemble the detritus from a flea market. It has been or is home to Wonkette’s slippers, the Watergate break-in door, Tim Russert’s office, posters and reporters’ notebooks from the Ferguson protests, Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold’s legal pads, Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs’ eyeglasses (broken when candidate Greg Gianforte body-slammed him), an Ai Weiwei self-portrait, props and costumes from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, a Boston Globe reporter’s running shoes, hundreds of press passes, Walt Mossberg’s gadgets, Bono’s jacket, and much more.

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Yep, people would pay big bucks to see that crap...............

[_Jim]

re: “Why would it be donated to this “Newseum” in the first place?”

Broadcast news. Before CNN and cable there was “broadcast news” on TeeVee (before that - radio ... Ha! And before that the town crier ... )

[Biggirl]

Give it to the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

[Gay State Conservative]

I got to visit the WTC Observation deck twice.Once was in the enclosed deck (I think it was really windy that day) and once on the rooftop deck. The rooftop deck was the experience of a lifetime for me....far,far superior to the deck at the Sears Tower,the Burj Kalifa and the new WTC (all of which I've visited).

I just wish I had brought a video camera to the rooftop deck.

[ObozoMustGo2012]

More like fake-Newseum....

[FamiliarFace]

I agree with your idea, Biggirl. That is where this piece belongs. Not in a scrap heap, and not in storage.

I would urge everyone to visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Don’t rush your visit. Take it in. It’s very well done.

I would be surprised if anyone would consider that antenna as scrap metal after visiting this very important museum.

[shanover]

9/11 overall has been relegated to museum and “somebody did something status”. Where is America since 9/11?

[a fool in paradise]

Dan Rather’s faxed forged Waco ‘national guard’ memo
Matt Lauer’s secret button
The model rocket engine NBC used to make a truck’s gas tank explode
The editing software ABC used to turn footage from Kentucky into Syria

[Ikeon]

D.c. is a crap hole after dark. and there aint enough daylight hours from september to april to support such nonsense as a newspaper museum . Iow.. what couldn’t they find enough pez despensers to fill 7 stories? It would be about as interesting

[Ikeon]

DUH! Newsporn won’t sell to the general public very well.

[democratsaremyenemy]

The 360-foot antenna carried the signal of most of New York City’s television broadcasters and a few radio stations, including WNYC.

I think Andy means Tower. The antennas were mounted on the tower.

[cactusflower]

I would prefer a pez dispenser museum instead of the newseum.