Union Square resonates: a “home for labor” for over a century, the place where victims of the 1911 Triangle Fire were mourned, the site of massive rallies and parades, protests and street corner debates, it is a historic gathering for working people.
After September 11 many of its past uses were renewed as people gathered to share information, to mourn and to pay tribute, to debate and to just share the time with others. Artwork from around the world, shrines, candles, flowers, flags and cards appeared daily for months. The tall object in the photo covered with tributes is a large “candle” with a wire “flame” that became the focal point for the rest of the large shrine at the South end of the Square. The statue is visible in the background just above the candle shrine.

Photograph taken September 16, 2001.

From the exhibit Missing: Streetscape of a City in Mourning, New York Historical Society, photograph by Martha Cooper.

See this image in the MISSING exhibit.