Remembering 9/11: Construction Begins on National Pentagon Memorial Visitor Education Center
Construction is set to begin on a museum that will tell the final chapter of the tragedy of 9/11, 25 years after the nation was deeply wounded. The Pentagon Memorial Fund, a nonprofit established by families of victims in 2003, is leading the project. The organization is finally breaking ground on the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Visitor Education Center on September 12. The center aims to provide information about the victims, the attack, and the global war on terror.
The Pentagon Memorial Fund has faced funding and planning challenges over the past 18 years, delaying the construction of the education facility. The Pentagon memorial, which opened in 2008, is the only site attacked on 9/11 without a museum or education center. The project has been delayed partly due to plans to expand Arlington National Cemetery nearby. The education center is now part of the broader cemetery expansion plan, which also includes the Air Force Memorial.
The construction of the education center is expected to be completed by summer 2029, along with the cemetery expansion. The organization has raised about $13 million of the estimated $100 million cost for the project. Private fundraising efforts have increased significantly, with federal and state funding contributing to the project. The two-story education center will be located southwest of the existing memorial, connected by a pedestrian pathway.
The education center will feature 10 exhibits, including stories of the 184 people killed in the Pentagon attack. The museum will focus on how the terrorist attacks changed the world and the national and global responses. The goal is to ensure that people "never forget" the events of 9/11. With about 30% of the U.S. population today not alive during 9/11, the organization aims to educate and make a personal connection with those who have no recollection of the day.
As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the Pentagon Memorial Fund is preparing to create a pop-up digital visitor education experience showcasing artifacts that will be displayed in the museum. The organization is working with the Department of War to finalize the content, which may include never-before-seen footage of recovery efforts at the Pentagon after the attack. The museum is expected to open in 2029, providing a place for visitors to learn about the tragic events of 9/11 and the impact they had on the world.