An iconic sculpture salvaged from the World Trade Center site that was decimated during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the piece that has become known as The Sphere was created by Fritz Koenig. It originally stood at the center of Austin J. Tobin Plaza between the Twin Towers. Recovered from Ground Zero after 9/11, it was temporarily relocated to Battery Park before returning to the area where it previously resided to serve as an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of the United States of America.
Weighing more than 20 tons, the piece was originally commissioned by the Port Authority in 1966. The Sphere was made to serve as part of a fountain for the space between the World Trade Center’s twin towers. It was the largest bronze sculpture of modern times. Dedicated in 1971, The Sphere was installed on the World Trade Center’s plaza and became a popular meeting place.
After the September 11 attacks, the piece was eventually was re-erected in Battery Park. Koening remarked, “It was a sculpture, now it’s a monument… it has its own life – different from the one I gave to it,” highlighting the transformative nature of the piece and space.
Originally a symbol of world peace, The Sphere has been transformed in form and function. Now helping to honor of all those who were lost on 9/11, it has become an icon of loss and remembrance and defines Liberty Park, which overlooks the 9/11 Memorial Site.
The fact that The Sphere survived and was physically affected by 9/11 has connected the monument to the community and with audiences on a profound level. Free to visit and reflect on, it serves as a reminder how much damage was done but at the same time highlights what it can mean for a monument and nation to persevere no matter the obstacle or challenge.
