Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Heartbreaking Images Show 9/11, the Day America Changed
On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked important places in the United States.
Two hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center towers in New York.
The towers caught fire and later collapsed.
People nearby watched the smoke, ran away, or comforted one another.
The streets became covered with rubble and ash.
Smoke was also seen over the Pentagon in Washington.
President George W. Bush learned about the crashes while visiting a school in Florida.
The photographs show how frightening and sad that day was.
Two hijacked airliners crashed into New York’s World Trade Center towers, causing both towers to collapse.
Smoke, flames, debris, rubble and ash filled Lower Manhattan after the attacks.
Pedestrians fled or watched as the World Trade Center burned and later stood amid its remains.
Smoke billowed over the Pentagon in Washington as a helicopter flew above the building.
Chief of Staff Andy Card informed President George W. Bush about the World Trade Center plane crashes during a visit to a Florida elementary school.
- Who
- People in New York and Washington were affected; President George W. Bush and Chief of Staff Andy Card were also shown in the captions.
- What
- Terrorist attacks involved two hijacked airliners crashing into the World Trade Center towers, which then collapsed; smoke also billowed over the Pentagon.
- When
- September 11, 2001.
- Where
- The World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and an elementary school in Sarasota, Florida.
- Why
- The captions identify the attacks as terrorist attacks but do not state a further motive.
- Date
- September 11, 2001
- New York attack
- Two hijacked airliners crashed into the World Trade Center towers.
- Building collapse
- Both World Trade Center towers collapsed.
- Washington scene
- Smoke billowed over the Pentagon.
- Presidential briefing
- Andy Card informed President George W. Bush about the World Trade Center plane crashes.
- Aftermath
- Rubble and ash filled streets in Lower Manhattan.