Original caption: Remains of the World Trade Center in New York City. This photograph, taken on September 14, 2001, shows the remains of the World Trade Center at ground zero in New York City and illustrates the destruction caused by the terrorist attack. The focal point is the twisted metal and blown-out windows of the buildings’ remains; but the photo also reveals dozens of people, mostly in hard hats, and many wearing firefighting uniforms, showing commitment and resilience in contrast to the devastation. Text adapted from “Teaching Difficult Topics with Primary Sources” in the November/December 2011 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) publication Social Education.
911: Ground Zero
- 9/14/2001
Description
This primary source comes from the Collection GWB-WHPO: Records of the White House Photo Office (George W. Bush Administration).
National Archives Identifier: 5997300
Full Citation: Photograph P7375-20; 911: Ground Zero; 9/14/2001; Photographs Related to the George W. Bush Administration, 1/20/2001 – 1/20/2009; Collection GWB-WHPO: Records of the White House Photo Office (George W. Bush Administration),; George W. Bush Library, Dallas, TX. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/911-ground-zero/, April 30, 2026]
Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
