9/11 Steel Beams Find a New Home at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

A poignant reminder of the terrorist attacks carried out on September 11, 2001 has found a new home in Fort Worth, Texas. An eight thousand pound steel beam from the World Trade Center's North Tower – between the 100th and 103rd floors – has officially moved into the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History for permanent display. Covered in asbestos, dust and other small detritus left over from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, workers carefully cleaned and prepared the museum's newest addition for relocation. Asbestos dust, joined with other deadly contaminates including mold, lead and paints to create a toxic plume that coated Manhattan immediately following destruction of the World Trade Center towers. Like the other pollutants released into the air, asbestos is highly carcinogenic or classified as a material that can cause cancer through exposure, and is directly linked to the development of mesothelioma cancer. In the years following, many police, fire and other 9/11 first responders developed – and in many cases, died from – asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma. Kept as it was when it was found after the terrorist attacks, the steel beam – twisted and mangled – will only need a handful of anchor posts to secure it in the museum. Prior to the grand opening of the display in October, the steel beam will be encased to discourage museum patrons from touching the remnant. The display will also include television monitors and a comprehensive explanation of the events leading up to and immediately following 9/11. Dubbed the "Lantern," the new home of the 9/11 steel beam is a tower space located above the foyer. On Tuesday, a flatbed truck transported the giant steel beam to the museum, and workers were able to place the beam into a pre-formed hole in the Lantern. Once the steel beam is secured, the hole will be filled with concrete, adding another layer of strength to the display. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey donated the steal beam to the museum.

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