The artifacts of 9/11: A slideshow

Everyday items exhibited across the country are made extraordinary because of where they came from

A fireman's helmet, a pair of glasses, a cluster of metal coins: These are just a few of the items that — twisted, melted, muddied, and soiled — have become museum-worthy artifacts since they were recovered in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks that occurred in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. On the 10th anniversary, the Smithsonian in D.C. and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York are among the museums telling the 9/11 story through such found personal and professional effects. "Each object has its own story, and they're connected to real individuals whose lives were changed, because all of our lives were changed," says David Allison, an associate director at the Smithsonian in Voices of America. Here, a look at some of the most telling items.