Micro Exhibit | September 1 – October 31, 2026

On September 11, 2001, nearly half a million people escaped Lower Manhattan by water in the largest maritime evacuation in history. In less than nine hours, hundreds of vessels—including Coast Guard cutters, tugboats, ferries, passenger vessels, and privately owned boats—answered an urgent call to evacuate people from Manhattan after the terrorist attacks. 

Although these events unfolded in New York Harbor, they tell a story that resonates across every American waterway. The courage, skill, and selfless service demonstrated that day reflect the traditions shared by mariners everywhere, including those who have worked and lived on the Great Lakes for generations.

The Greatest Maritime Evacuation: September 11, 2001 explores this remarkable rescue 25 years later through the experiences of four very different vessels: a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, a harbor tugboat, a passenger vessel, and a privately owned boat. Through powerful photographs and firsthand accounts, discover how professional mariners and everyday citizens worked together to bring hundreds of thousands of people to safety.