Temporary Micro-Exhibit: The Greatest Maritime Evacuation-September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, nearly half a million people fled Lower Manhattan by water in what became the largest maritime rescue operation in American history. This small temporary exhibit at the National Museum of the Great Lakes tells that remarkable story through the eyes of four very different vessels—a Coast Guard cutter, a harbor tugboat, a passenger ferry, and a private boat—that all answered the urgent call to help. Using powerful photographs and firsthand accounts, visitors discover how professional mariners and everyday citizens worked together in less than nine hours to bring hundreds of thousands of people to safety. While this heroic evacuation happened in New York Harbor, the exhibit connects it to the wider American maritime tradition, including the proud history of Great Lakes sailors and boat operators. It's a meaningful way to honor the courage and service shown that day while exploring how communities on waterways everywhere—past and present—come together in times of crisis. The exhibit runs through the end of October at the museum.