The Sonic Memorial Project

This recording of the scene outside the WTC as the first tower collapsed was broadcast on NPR's Weekend Edition on September 15, 2001. Reporter Steven Manning made the recording on September 11th.

Austin J. Tobin was Director of the Port Authority from 1942 to 1972. In this press conference, recorded during the 1960s, Tobin describes the details of contruction management.

This Port Authority audio tour from the 1970s gives an overview of the construction of the World Trade Center.

In this clip from March 1966, news broadcaster Tom Tunn announces the end of the Little Businessman's fight against the Port Authority. Shortly thereafter, demolition of the neighborhood began in preparation for building the World Trade Center.

These newsreels from the early 1960s document the struggle waged by small businessmen in Lower Manhattan against the Port Authority's plans to build the World Trade Center. The fight went all the way to the Supreme Court before the Port Authority…

This audio explaining the history of the buildings and Windows on the World is taken from a promotional film about World Trade Center.

A woman leaves a voicemail for her friend Timmy, warning him about the planes crashing into the towers.

On September 11, Cheryl Moch received this voicemail message from a friend who describes how their friend Vicki had to run for shelter when one of the towers collapsed.

Melody Graham's husband and a worried friend leave messages for her on the morning of September 11.

Les Robertson, the head WTC engineer, talks about testing the buildings for sway and plays recordings in which you can hear the building creaking in the wind.

During the rescue and cleanup operation at Ground Zero on September 16, 2001, William Harvey, a student at Juilliard played the violin for the 69th Regiment. He remembers his experience in an interview recorded a few weeks later.

Produced by Steve…

In this interview, Vanessa and John Johnson remember getting married at one of the annual Valentine's Day wedding marathons held at the World Trade Center.

Once the daytime workers had left the WTC and the evening rush was over, the late-night staff often tuned their radios to Latino stations. The music was one of the distinctive sounds to be heard there after hours.

On New Year's eve, December 31, 1987, NPR reporter Jim Anderson broadcast live from the Vista International Hotel at the World Trade Center. In this recording from that evening, Mel Lewis introduces his orchestra and they play Don't Git Sassy.

On New Year's eve, December 31, 1987, NPR reporter Jim Anderson broadcast live from the Vista International Hotel at the World Trade Center. In this recording, Mel Lewis and his orchestra, with singer Carmen McRae, play the traditional tune Auld…

The aircheck run by radio station WFUV just before the first plane struck shows what was on the nation's mind the morning of September 11. The Dj cuts in with breaking news.

In this WFUV interview from January 8, 2002, Ray Wilson talks about his 15 years as organizer of CenterStage, the annual summer concert series at the Twin Towers--he produced over 1,000 concerts for the series. Workers and tourists crammed into the…

In this WFUV interview from January 8, 2002, Ray Wilson talks about his 15 years as organizer of CenterStage, the annual summer concert series at the Twin Towers--he produced over 1,000 concerts for the series. Workers and tourists crammed into the…

In this press conference, rock climber George Willig discusses his amazing climb to the top of the south tower in 1977. Mayor Abe Beame jokes about the city's handling of the situation.

Independent producer Benjamin Shapiro interviews two men collecting ashes a few blocks from the WTC on September 11.