Tales from The Towers: A Wheelchair Pilgrimage

Updated June 21, 2016

Last 4th of July in a special hour-long broadcast, The Takeaway visited The World Trade Center — a place that is part memorial, part transportation center, part monument, and part symbol of industrial might.

But the World Trade Center also holds something deeply personal for our host John Hockenberry. 

"Even though the old Twin Towers were criticized for being not enough like the rest of New York City, that's why I loved them," he said. "They were accessible for wheelchairs, everywhere."

John took some time to ride as many of these elevators as he could, and he allowed all of us to come along for the journey.

Back in April, it was announced that his audio essay about his "wheelchair pilgrimage" was selected for a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Use of Sound. On June 21, 2016, the Radio Television Digital News Association also announced that John's piece had been selected for a National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Use of Sound.

Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear John's award-winning essay. Click here to check out our full "Tales from The Towers" show.