The Survivors’ Stairway

Good News - The Stairway Is Being Saved !

The Survivors' Stairway was successfully moved on Sunday, March 9, 2008 to its temporary location (Vesey Street at Greenwich Street). It will be installed in the September 11th Memorial Museum, during the summer of 2008.

We are happy to announce that our long battle to ensure the survival of the Vesey Street Survivors' Stairway has reached a successful conclusion.

We appreciate the efforts of Governor Spitzer's office, Avi Shick, Chairman, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Alice Greenwald, Director, National September 11 Memorial & Museum, and the Lower Manhattan Emergency Preservation Fund.

Latest News  (For complete news coverage, see In The News)
Memorial Museum Next Stop For Survivor Stairs, Tribeca Trib, Apr 2008
Survivor Stairs Video By The Tribeca Trib, March 10, 2008
Ground Zero 'Survivors Staircase' Saved, ABC News, March 9, 2008
"Survivor's Staircase" Moved To Temporary Storage, NY1 News, March 9, 2008
9/11 survivor staircase to be moved, USA Today, March 6, 2008
WTC Staircase Cherished as 9/11 Escape Route Moving, 1010 Wins, March 6, 2008
A Last Glimpse of the 9/11 Stairway, Before It Moves, NY Times, March 4, 2008

The "Survivors' Stairway" is the last remaining above-ground remnant of the World Trade Center. The Vesey Street stairway was used by hundreds of people to evacuate the towers on September 11th, 2001. For many, it was the only route of escape, and is thus now termed the “Survivors' Stairway.” [Photos]

The stairway itself survived the collapse of the buildings, as well as the subsequent clean-up efforts. The image of stairs is a critical element of the story of September 11th. Everyone who escaped that day did so by going down stairs.  And in going down, they were passed by the hundreds of firefighters and rescuers who were going up… heroes all, who ultimately met their deaths.

The Vesey Street Stairway should be saved as a testament to the survivors who used those stairs.  It should be saved for the families who wish their loved ones could have found them.  Most importantly, they should be saved in memory of the 2,749 friends, neighbors, coworkers, visitors, and loved ones who could not reach their safety.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation named the Survivors' Stairway as one of "America's 11 Most Endangered Places."  Also see the National Trust's comments, "Moving the Stairs = Moving Forward."

"... We need the "Survivors' Staircase" as a reminder of the day America lost her innocence, as well as a symbol of America"s strength, resilience and determination to survive...."    --National Trust for Historic Preservation

The World Trade Center Survivors' Network has been working with concerned organizations to help save the Stairway. Its preservation is essential to the process of accurately recording the story of the attacks for future generations. This stairway should be preserved -- as a testament of hope to the thousands who survived that day.

We have long maintained that the most significant elements of the Stairway are the parts that "look like a stairway". In line with this, the LMDC plan will extract intact and move the entire run of stairs for preservation, including the remnant of the WTC Plaza landing still remaining at the top of the stairs.

We have also maintained that the symbolic nature of the Stairway is as important as its historic value, and that only such a venue as the Memorial Museum can showcase this. In line with this, the LMDC plan calls for the entire run of stairs to be relocated to the Museum in such a manner that it can provide for, in their words, "meaningful incorporation of the story and significance of the staircase, within the primary narrative of the Museum."

Finally, we have been fighting for years to have the WTC reconstruction plans amended so that they would provide some element, inclusive of survivors and the survivor experience, located in the new plaza. In line with this, the LMDC plan calls for part of the upper landing portion of the Stairway to be relocated to the new Memorial Plaza -- in an area dedicated to survivors. More details are available in the LMDC Press Release.

We want to thank the many survivors and supporters who have helped in this cause over the years. Your efforts were invaluable, and all deserve a measure of credit for our success. We especially want to thank Govenor Spitzer's Administration who had the courage to take a look at the redevelopment plan with fresh eyes and to craft a meaningful compromise. —World Trade Center Survivors' Network