The embossed leather and brass fire helmet, above, similar in design to those worn by many fire fighters, belonged to a retired captain from Engine Company 23, Manhattan. All the members of Engine Company 23 who responded for duty at the twin towers on September 11, 2001, were killed that day.
In the months following the terrorist attacks, the helmet was auctioned off to raise money for the families of 9/11 victims. Thanks to the auction winner, it made its way to the Mobile Fire and Rescue Department, which sent many of its own members to New York for recovery and cleanup efforts in the aftermath of the World Trade Center tragedy. In time, the helmet was donated to the City of Mobile and became part of the permanent exhibit at the Phoenix Fire Museum.
From Sept. 11 to Dec. 2, 2011, visitors traveling to the “Recovery: The World Trade Center Recovery Operation” exhibit at the Museum of Mobile will be able to view the helmet in a context unseen for almost 10 years, as it is reunited with other poignant objects from Ground Zero. Our local reminder of 9/11 history and the national traveling exhibit of World Trade Center artifacts are not to be missed. (For more details on other special 9/11 commemorative events, click here.)
Museum of Mobile • 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. T – Sa, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Su. 111 S. Royal St., 208-7569. museumofmobile.com
Phoenix Fire Museum • 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. T – Sa, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Su. 203 S. Claiborne St., 208-7569. museumofmobile.com
Jacob Laurence
