Tribute in Light

The Tribute in Light is a special art show in New York City to honor the people who were hurt during the September 11 attacks. It uses 88 bright searchlights arranged in two tall lines to look like the Twin Towers. You can see these lights from far away—up to 60 miles—on clear nights. The lights turn on after sunset and stay up until morning, with short breaks to help migratory birds fly safely.

This beautiful light display started in early 2002 as a temporary way to remember those lost. But because so many people loved it, it became an annual event that happens every September 11. It is put on by the Municipal Art Society of New York and was created by artists John Bennett, Gustavo Bonevardi, Richard Nash Gould, Julian LaVerdiere, and Paul Myoda, with help from lighting expert Paul Marantz.

Similar light shows have also been done at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia and at the place where United 93 fell in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, remembering all the places that were targeted on that sad day.

Background

Further information: September 11 attacks

After the September 11 attacks, many people thought of using lights to honor those who were lost. These ideas came together under the help of the Municipal Art Society and Creative Time.

The Tribute in Light started building on March 11, 2002. It first shone its lights from March 11 to April 14, 2002, and again on September 11, 2003, to remember the second anniversary. Since then, it has been shown every year on September 11. Though it was meant to stop in 2008, it kept going each year after that.

In 2009, it was decided to keep the lights on through the tenth anniversary in 2011. By 2012, plans were made to move the lights to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, but as of 2025, this move has not happened yet.

Each year, around 30 workers spend ten days putting up the lights. Before the tribute begins, people from places like Brooklyn, Staten Island, New Jersey, and uptown Manhattan help check that the lights are pointing just right.

The lights are made by a company in Italy called Space Cannon, and a Las Vegas-based company, Light America, also helped with the project.

The project was almost called Towers of Light, but families of those lost thought this focused too much on the buildings rather than the people.

Since 2008, the lights have been powered by a special fuel made from used cooking oil gathered from restaurants nearby.

The Tribute in Light was once planned to be a permanent feature on top of One World Trade Center, but this did not happen in the final design.

Effects on birds

The bright lights from Tribute in Light can confuse many migrating birds, trapping them in the beams even from very high up. To help the birds, the lights are turned off for short periods so the birds can fly away safely. Experts work together to make sure the lights don’t bother the birds while they are migrating. A study showed that when the lights are off, the birds behave normally again.

In popular culture

The Tribute in Light was shown in the music video for "Color of Love" by Boyz II Men. It also appeared in the opening of Spike Lee's 2002 film 25th Hour. The lights were part of the CBS series Blue Bloods. They also showed up in the music video of U2's "You're the Best Thing About Me".

In the video game for the movie Spider-Man 2, the lights appear near where the World Trade Center once stood. In another game for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the lights can be seen at the building site of One World Trade Center at night.