• 2009 – The Village of Oak Lawn and Oak Lawn Rotary Club partner to bring four beams of the
  World Trade Center towers to Oak Lawn in order to create a monument in recognition of first
  responders.
• 2011 – The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn is offered two pieces of the beams to create an
  exhibit.
• 2012 – The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn opens “We the People,” an exhibit focused on the
  days that followed 9/11, focused on friendship, helping others, patriotism and coming together
  as a nation.
• 2019 – “We the People” travels locally to the White Oak Library District where it is met with great
  review.
• 2023 – “We the People” travels to the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon,
  Michigan where it is escorted by first responders and the Illinois Patriot Guard from the
  Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn and welcomed by first responders and the Michigan Patriot
  Guard at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum.
• 2024 – “We the People” officially becomes a traveling historic exhibit

Our Vision

Your Commitment

There are no fees to host this exhibit. We only request that the hosting institution agree to
cover the costs associated with the transport to and from your location, provide insurance
for the exhibit while it is in your care, ensure that the exhibit remains in good working
order and cover the costs of any damages that may be incurred while in your care.

The Exhibit

At the center of the exhibit are two beam pieces from the north tower of the World Trade
Center which serves as a powerful reminder of the September 11th attacks. The Talk-Back
Star Table, designed to engage children in thinking and communicating about helping
others in their community, complements the beams