National Museum of the Great Lakes Marks 25th Anniversary of September 11 with New Micro-Exhibit

Daily Dose | 09/02/2026 3:15 pm

The National Museum of the Great Lakes is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a new temporary micro-exhibit exploring one of the day’s most remarkable rescue efforts.

The Greatest Maritime Evacuation: September 11, 2001 will be on display from September 1 through October 31, 2026. Through powerful photographs and firsthand accounts, the exhibit shares how professional mariners and everyday citizens came together to evacuate nearly half a million people from Lower Manhattan by water.

In less than nine hours, hundreds of vessels—including U.S. Coast Guard cutters, harbor tugboats, ferries, passenger vessels, and privately owned boats—answered an urgent call for assistance. Together, they carried out what is considered the largest maritime evacuation in history.

“Although this extraordinary rescue unfolded in New York Harbor, it reflects the courage, skill, and selfless service that define maritime communities everywhere, including the Great Lakes region,” said Carrie Sowden, Director of Archaeology & Research, National Museum of the Great Lakes.

The Greatest Maritime Evacuation: September 11, 2001 is included with museum admission and will be open during regular museum hours through October 31. For admission information and museum hours, visit nmgl.org.

About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes preserves, shares, and celebrates the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. As an interactive, experiential museum, we offer visitors the chance to explore thousands of years of history and stories through nine dynamic exhibit galleries—including a rotating temporary exhibition space—and two historic museum vessels, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio, plus the pilothouse of the storied St. Marys Challenger.

Founded in 1944 as the Great Lakes Historical Society, we have a long-standing commitment to education, research, and storytelling. Our initiatives include the publication of Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history since 1945 and decades of maritime preservation and archaeological exploration. Today, we strive to be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations—welcoming all to connect with the stories, people, and innovations that have shaped and continue to influence this vital region.

WHAT: The Greatest Maritime Evacuation: September 11, 2001

WHEN: September 1 - October 31, 2026

WHERE: National Museum of the Great Lakes 1701 Front St., Toledo, OH 43605

ADMISSION: $20.00 (Museum & Ship) / $14.00 (Museum Only) – Adults (18-64)

$18.00 (Museum & Ship) / $12.00 (Museum Only) – Seniors (65+)

$14.00 (Museum & Ship) / $8.00 (Museum Only) – Youth (6-17) FREE – Children 5 and under, GLHS/NMGL Members

MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Streichert Lovejoy, 419-460-8181