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9/11 Tribute Center Going Strong Despite Opening Of National Museum

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The National September 11 Memorial Museum may have opened last month, but the 9/11 Tribute Center across the street is still thriving, its president said.

Lee Ielpi, one of the center's co-founders, told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell that he's still seeing full tours daily.

9/11 Tribute Center Going Strong Despite Opening Of National Museum

While he said he doesn't view it as a competition, Ielpi said what sets the Tribute Center apart from the national museum is its personal touch. At the Tribute Center tours are guided by family members of 9/11 victims, first responders and survivors.

"We're going to tell the story by those that lived it," Ielpi said.

9/11 Tribute Center
A window of airplane that crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11 is seen inside the 9/11 Tribute Center. (Credit: Peter Haskell/WCBS 880)

Ielpi is a retired member of the FDNY. His son, Jonathan, a firefighter, died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The center opened in 2006 to fill a void, Ielpi said.

"We saw the need to have somebody here telling the thousands of people where they are and what happened here." Ielpi said.

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