Many visitors to the 9/11 museum couldn’t resist the lure of the gift shop — shelling out money Wednesday for T-shirts, trinkets and books about the tragic day.
British tourist Keith Roach, 55, bought a $5 lanyard that said “9/11 Memorial” to hold his work ID.
“Were going to Orlando. I was going to buy one at Disney, but this made more sense,” he said.
He and his wife, Della, 52, also picked up books: “9/11 Ordinary People: Extraordinary Heroes,’’ for $18.99, and “From the Inside Out: Harrowing Escapes from the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center,’’ for $19.95, plus a $25 bracelet with an American flag.
East Village resident Sean Starks, 24, purchased a couple of $22 T-shirts with images of the Twin Towers and the words, “In darkness we shine brightest,” as well as a 9/11 Memorial mug for $10.95 and six 9/11 pencils for $4.95.
“I was trying to find things that have a connection to 9/11, rather than just earrings and things that have no connection,” he said.
But other visitors said the idea of selling knickknacks on hallowed ground made them sick.
“As rotten and heartless as it may seem, it’s always about money,” said James Kristan, 57, of Kentwood, Mich., who made a point of not buying anything.
“Educational books and T-shirts and posters that say, ‘Never forget 9/11’ are OK, but the dog vests and the cheap earrings need to go.”
Rain Dubilewski, 24, an Upper West Side model, said he was honored to visit the museum — but felt the store cheapened the experience.
“It’s hard to corporatize something that is essentially a cemetery,” he said.
Firefighter Mark Medina, who was working as a cop on 9/11, said the point of the memorial should be to remember victims — not to turn a buck.
“I think it’s an insult to families,” Medina said. “I don’t think you should profit from anything going on down here.”
Additional reporting by Andrea Peyser