Preserving artifacts at the 9/11 Museum

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Now that the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is open, the task of preserving the artifacts inside is an ongoing process.

With the installation of the national 9/11 flag on the one year anniversary of the 9/11 Museum opening, comes a monumental task.

"The protection of the artifacts is so important because we want them to be around a hundred years from now to tell this very important part of American history," said Joe Daniels, President and CEO of the 9/11 Museum.

Exhibits can be affected by light, temperature and humidity changes, and even microscopic dust and dirt.

Many exhibits like an ax buried in the searing heat of the collapse must be carefully handled and displayed with what chief curator Jan Ramirez calls.

"Preventative conservation," Ramirez said.

The flag for instance, is stitched together with pieces of flags from other cities suffering tragedies, will remain here for only about a year before being rotated with another exhibit.

"Clean it. Usually vacuum it very carefully. Roll it if that's appropriate. And put it in dark climate controlled storage," Ramirez said.

As many as 55,000 items and artifacts have been collected. From the huge last column covered in pictures to small mementos each one carefully handled and stored, like the handbag of a survivor.

"You have to protect it, in sealed bags," Eyewitness News said.

"We keep it in sealed bags so that nothing is leached into the air," Ramirez said.

And if displayed with cards found inside, "Our conservators would say under certain light levels we can have these out on display for a maximum of a year," Ramirez said.

A now fragile firefighter's watch is crumbling in pieces.

"Once the watch is placed on that customized specialized undercarriage, it will not go off, that's the way it will be stored," Ramirez said.

Even newer exhibits receive special attention. For those who might be considering offering treasured items to the museum, you can count on them to take care of the pieces.

"Collecting these mementos of history is one of our highest callings and people can rest assured that they can put their trust in us," Daniels said.

For more information please visit: http://www.911memorial.org/