HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The year 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, and in “solemn observance” of the occasion, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission has announced a new exhibit at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, which debuts Wednesday.
Witness to History: Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001 opens to the public on Wednesday. It will be accessible during the Archives’ regular operating hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, as well as the second Saturday of each month during the same times.
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Pennsylvania was tragically impacted during the attacks, when United Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville in Somerset County, the direct result of passengers and crew fighting back against the hijackers, ultimately preventing the plane from making it to its intended target in Washington, D.C., despite losing their lives in the process.
Witness to History highlights their sacrifice, also examining the recovery and identification process at the crash site, as well as the response from state police, first responders and other state and federal agencies.
The exhibit is broken up into a number of sections, including:
Real-time documentation: Original, handwritten notes from former state police commissioner Col. Paul J. Evanko that cover the response on Sept. 11, along with an interview with Evanko and archival footage of the crash site.
Expressions of support: A pair of heartfelt wall hangings created by schoolchildren that were sent to Gov. Tom Ridge at the time, “representing the massive nationwide outpouring of love and support for the victims, heroes and their families.”
A shift in state and national history: The official document denoting Ridge’s resignation from his role as Governor to become the first Secretary of Homeland Security in United States history.
“This exhibit offers a deeply moving look at how our Commonwealth responded in a moment of unprecedented crisis,” Andrea Lowery, Executive Director of PHMC, said in a press release. “By sharing these powerful primary documents, firsthand accounts, and personal expressions of support, the Pennsylvania State Archives ensures that the heroism of the Flight 93 passengers and the dedication of our first responders are preserved, studied, and remembered for generations to come.”
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