September 10 | 6pm | In-Person | Pier 16 | Free
Join Jessica DuLong, historian and author of Saved at the Seawall: Stories from the September 11 Boat Lift, and Robert Snyder, Manhattan Borough Historian and professor emeritus at Rutgers University, for a conversation aboard tall ship Wavertree exploring the complexities of how historians, artists, and the public define “heroes” and how that perception can shift over time.
Inspired by DuLong’s writing, we will examine how choosing to emphasize heroic acts might “include more people in the circle of those who see themselves as helpers capable of heroism.” The panelists’ personal experiences surrounding the tragic events of 9/11 will serve as the catalyst for a thoughtful discussion delving into the complexities of heroic actions and how and when certain individuals obtain historical “heroic” status.
A complimentary toast is included, and copies of Saved at the Seawall will also be available for purchase. The event is FREE, and advance registration is required.
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Visiting Wavertree includes climbing up a few stairs, up a gangway, and then down a few stairs onto the deck. Masks are optional for this event.
Saved at the Seawall: Stories from the September 11 Boat Lift by Jessica DuLong is also the September selection for the Seaport Museum Book Club which will meet to discuss the book on Monday, September 29 at 5:30pm at McNally Jackson Books at 4 Fulton Street. Learn more about the Seaport Museum Book Club here and receive a 10% off discount code for online orders of Saved at the Seawall when you register for the September meeting.
About the Panel
Jessica DuLong is a Brooklyn-based, ASJA award-winning author, journalist, book collaborator, writing coach, and editor. Her latest book, Saved at the Seawall: Stories from the September 11 Boat Lift, is the definitive history of the largest maritime evacuation in history. Her previous book, My River Chronicles: Rediscovering the Work that Built America; A Personal and Historical Journey, traces the rise and fall of respect for hands-on work in the U.S. across four centuries of New York Harbor and Hudson River history. DuLong has published with CNN.com, Newsweek International, Rolling Stone, Psychology Today, New York History, The Daily Beast, LitHub, and History News Network, among other outlets. Her media appearances include: Spike Lee’s HBO docu-series “NYC Epicenters 9/11→2021½,” TODAY show, CBS Sunday Morning, USA Today, History Channel, C-Span, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. She also appears, in cartoon form, in Maira Kalman’s picture book, Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey. DuLong is a USCG-licensed marine engineer who served aboard retired 1931 NYC fireboat John J. Harvey for two decades, 11 years as chief. https://jessicadulong.com/
Robert Snyder, Manhattan Borough Historian and professor emeritus at Rutgers University, has devoted his career to writing and teaching about the history of New York City. Currently editing a documentary history of the COVID pandemic in New York, he writes for both scholars and the general public in books such as Crossing Broadway: Washington Heights and the Promise of New York and All the Nations Under Heaven: Immigrants, Migrants and the Making of New York. He has consulted for the Smithsonian Institution, National Public Radio, and the Museum of the City of New York. He is a former Fulbright lecturer in American Studies in Korea, and a member of the New York Academy History. He lives in Manhattan.
Tall Ship Wavertree
Wavertree, built in 1885 was operated for many years as a cargo ship sailing around the world.