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About this experience

O'Hara's Restaurant and Bar

New York City, New York

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Published: 2026 (v5)

Story outline

  • Welcome to O'Hara's

    O’Hara’s Restaurant & Bar, an Irish pub opposite the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, serves as a living tribute to honor first responders, military, and the lost. A welcoming neighborhood hub where thousands of patches and other memorabilia that cover the walls and bar tops, sharing stories that reflect resilience and communal memories.

  • Stop 1. An Evolving History

    Since 1983 O’Hara’s transformed from a white‑collar “suits” bar into a textured sanctuary and living memorial. Once serving a sparse financial‑district neighborhood, it now honors first responders and shares a unique side of 9/11.

  • Stop 2. September 11, 2001

    After 9/11, O’Hara’s became a vital refuge for first responders and neighborhood residents. On the first anniversary in 2002, a firefighter’s patch was affixed to the bar, sparking a tradition of pinned badges and tributes that honors resilience and community service.

  • Stop 3. Continued Resilience

    For over 40 years O’Hara’s has weathered fire, flood, terrorism and pandemic, repeatedly reopening through community effort. Its survival reflects neighborhood resilience and deep local investment, preserving a beloved gathering place and the memories embedded in its walls.

  • Stop 4. International Recognition

    O’Hara’s has become an international shrine to solidarity since 9/11, displaying patches and tributes from U.S. and global first responders and military units—including honors for Afghan Female Tactical Platoon and Thai Navy SEALs, reflecting worldwide recognition and gratitude.

  • Stop 5. Creating Community

    O’Hara’s serves as a communal sanctuary for firefighters, police, EMS, and military, honoring sacrifice and mutual support. Its wall patches, pins, shirts, and art work that embody volunteerism and solidarity.

  • Stop 6. Human Connections

    Rooted in community care, O'Hara's invites visitors to connect with personal stories, leaving uplifted by shared resilience, remembrance, and hope.

Voices

  • A bald, middle-aged man smiling at the camera, wearing a dark shirt, standing against a wall covered with colorful stickers and patches.

    Michael Keane

    Co-owner of O'Hara's

  • A middle-aged bald man smiles and looks to the right of the camera. He is wearing a dark zip-up jacket and standing on a busy city street in front of a fire department.

    Sal Argano

    FDNY Sr. Firefighter, 9/11 Survivor

  • A man with short gray hair sits in a black computer chair and smiles into the camera, wearing a navy t-shirt and a cross necklace.

    John "Big John" Suter

    First Patch Initiator, Ground Zero Construction Worker

  • A woman with short dark hair and glasses smiles into the camera while leaning on bar top. Behind her is a wall covered in patches and stickers.

    Margaret Vesey

    O'Hara's Empolyee

  • A woman wearing black-rimmed glasses and a red headwrap smiles into the camera. She is seated before a wall densely covered with colorful police, fire, and rescue patches.

    Pat Moore

    Neighbor, Community Board Member

  • A man with buzzed hair and a trimmed beard looks into the camera. He is wearing a dark zip-up jacket with an emblem, seated in a dimly lit room with badges and framed items on the wall behind him.

    Tim Brown

    FDNY Firefighter, Ret., 9/11 Survivor

Partners

About the Project

CyArk is celebrating America's 250th anniversary story through a collection of immersive experiences that explore three distinct places, three time periods, and three perspectives on the nation’s history. From the founding era of the American Revolution, to the fight for educational opportunity during segregation, to the collective memory and service surrounding September 11th, these projects highlight how individual places can deepen our understanding of the people, values, and struggles that have shaped the United States. Together, the collection reflects the complexity of the American experience while creating new ways for audiences to connect with history through place-based storytelling.

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Credits

We appreciate the entire O'Hara's staff for working with and supporting our team while we were on-site documenting this project. Thank you to each of our interviewees Michael Keane, Margaret Vesey, Pat Moore, Sal Argano, Tim Brown, and John for sharing each of their unique experiences on 9/11 and at O'Hara's Pub. Also, a special thank you the 9/11 Memorial & Museum for providing additional support throughout the project.