Survivors' stairway being preserved

Something astonishing is now visible on Vesey Street: the Vesey Street staircase.

Also known as the “Survivors’ Stairway” for its vital role in the evacuation of hundreds of people from the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, the staircase has been largely obscured by fencing, equipment and its design.

A Last Glimpse of the 9/11 Stairway, Before It Moves

The stairs seem to come to an abrupt end in midair. That was the level of the Austin J. Tobin Plaza, which was higher than the sidewalk around much of the complex. Evacuees from the north tower made their way along the plaza’s edge and down these stairs after the terrorist attack.

Eventually, the stairway will be reinstalled in the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center.