World Trade Center cross facts for kids
The World Trade Center cross, also known as the Ground Zero cross, is a formation of steel beams. These beams were found among the wreckage of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, New York City. This happened after the terrible September 11 attacks in 2001. People call it a cross because the beams look like a Christian cross. Since 2014, these beams have been an important part of an exhibit at the September 11 Museum.
How the Cross Was Found
The original World Trade Center buildings were made using parts built in factories. These parts were then bolted or welded together at the building site. This way of building saved a lot of time and money. T-beams and other cross beams were used in all the World Trade Center buildings.
When the Twin Towers fell, debris crashed onto Six World Trade Center. This destroyed the inside of that building. The cross-shaped beam found there is thought to have come from the North Tower.
After the attacks, a huge effort began to clear the site. Workers also searched for anyone who might have survived. On September 13, 2001, a worker named Frank Silecchia found a 20-foot (6.1 m) cross made of two steel beams. He found it among the debris of 6 World Trade Center.
A Special Symbol
People who could get to the site used the cross as a special place. They would leave messages on it or pray there. After a few weeks, the cross was in the way of other cleanup work. So, Frank Silecchia and other workers got quick permission from New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's office. They wanted to set it up on a stand.
The cross was moved by a crane on October 3 and put in place on October 4. It stood on a part of the old plaza near Church Street and Liberty Street. It continued to be a special place and a spot many visitors wanted to see.
Moving the Cross
The cross stayed there during the rebuilding of the area. But in 2004 and 2005, plans showed that other parts of the old World Trade Center might need to be moved. These parts would be stored while the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub was built.
Father Brian Jordan, a Roman Catholic priest, worked to protect the cross. He started trying to save it in April 2006. St. Peter's Church, which is across from the World Trade Center site, was suggested as a temporary home. The cross was finally moved to St. Peter's on October 5, 2006. It sat on the Church Street side of the church. A plaque on it said: "The Cross at Ground Zero – Founded September 13, 2001; Blessed October 4, 2001; Temporarily Relocated October 5, 2006. Will return to WTC Museum, a sign of comfort for all."
Where the Cross Is Now
On July 23, 2011, Father Jordan blessed the cross in a short ceremony. Then, it was loaded onto a large truck. It was moved back to Ground Zero and carefully lowered into the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The cross is a very large item, so it was put in place before the rest of the museum displays were added.
See also
In Spanish: Cruz del World Trade Center para niños
