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 evacuation in American history. In just nine hours, hundreds of vessels—Coast Guard cutters, tugboats, ferries, and private boats—sprang into action to rescue people from the city. Though this dramatic rescue happened in New York Harbor, the National Museum of the Great Lakes brings this story to your region by exploring how it reflects the maritime traditions of the Great Lakes and waterways across the country. This small exhibit tells the evacuation story through the perspectives of four different vessels: a Coast Guard cutter, a harbor tugboat, a passenger ship, and a private boat. Visitors see powerful photographs and read firsthand accounts from the people who were there, learning how professional mariners and ordinary citizens worked together during this remarkable day. It's a meaningful way to understand both a pivotal moment in American history and the courage of people who work on our waters. The exhibit runs through the end of October at the museum.