Womack Featured in ‘Windows on the World’ Documentary

Kenneth Womack, Ph.D., professor of English and Popular Music, contributed to the documentary, "Windows on the World: 9/11's Forgotten Story," a film focusing on the employees of Windows of the World, the restaurant located on the 106th and 107th floors of the World Trade Center's North Tower.

Womack appears as an expert commentator, providing historical context about the restaurant and the lives of the 73 employees who were above the impact zone when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the tower.

"It was a privilege to be involved in such a moving and significant production. The director kindly drew on my scholarship, including my novella 'The Restaurant at the End of the World,' and my retrospective work 'The World Trade Center Through Time,'" Womack said.

He continued, "The history of the Windows on the World restaurant is inextricably linked with the history of the towers. And it was a monument to American innovation and success. Indeed, in 2000, its last full year in operation, Windows was the highest grossing restaurant in the United States, earning some $37 million in revenue."

Womack has spent more than a decade researching the employees of Windows of the World, motivated by the limited information available about their lives. His research sought to identify who they were, what jobs they held, and what their lives were like outside the restaurant.

His research became the foundation for his 2012 historical fiction novella, "The Restaurant at the End of the World." The book follows 28 real-life staff members at Windows on the World, from cooks and housekeepers to food runners and managers. It explores their daily routines, personal relationships, and reflections as they prepare for an ordinary workday.

Womack's work also includes his 2017 architectural and cultural history book "World Trade Center Through Time (America Through Time)," which discusses the construction of the Twin Towers and examines the buildings' connection to the culture of New York City and America.

The full documentary is available to watch here.