Sept. 11 Museum’s Gift Shop Draws Fire From 9/11 Families

On the eve of its long-delayed opening, the National September 11 Memorial Hall and Museum is engulfed in a new controversy, with some 9/11 families voicing anger over the presence of a gift shop on the site where the remains of hundreds of unidentified victims are interred, The Washington Post and CBS New York report.

“It’s a burial ground. We don’t think there should be those things offered on that spot,” said Kurt Horning, whose son died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, regarding the sale of mugs, scarves, T-shirts, and other items. “If you want to do it, do it someplace else—but not right there.” Mr. Horning and his wife, Diane, founded WTC Families for Proper Burial, a group that sued the city to keep the remains out of the museum.

Some New York politicians are also criticizing the shop, according to the New York Post, which triggered the firestorm with an article Sunday questioning the propriety of the merchandise sales. The store has been open this week as the museum let in 9/11 survivors, victims’ families, and rescue and recovery workers for a preview. Many of the visitors made purchases at the shop.

Museum officials have said revenue from $24 admission tickets and souvenir sales are key to meeting the facility’s $63-million annual operating budget in lieu of funds from the city or federal governments. “[O]ur organization relies on private fundraising, gracious donations, and revenue from ticketing and carefully selected keepsake items for retail,” museum spokesman Michael Frazier said in a statement.