Orlando Begins Removing Artifacts from Pulse Nightclub Ahead of Permanent Memorial

The City of Orlando has begun carefully removing select artifacts from the Pulse nightclub as work moves forward on a permanent memorial at the site of the 2016 mass shooting that claimed 49 lives.

City officials say the items are being removed to preserve them during the design and construction process. According to a news release, artifacts such as chandeliers, signage, posters, the bar top, lighting fixtures, and portions of interior walls are being carefully prepackaged and transported to an environmentally controlled warehouse. Officials noted that it has not yet been decided which items, if any, will ultimately be incorporated into the final memorial design.

Among the items preserved are two chandeliers, an ornamental framed mirror, a cash register, sections of interior walls including the sunburst and “Glitter” walls, portions of the original wood flooring, ceiling pendant lights, an iPad, and exterior elements such as building numbers and patio bar tiles. A primary section of the breach wall is also included.

In addition to items from inside the building, the city is preserving pieces of the temporary memorial that has stood at the site for years. These include a section of the memorial fence, benches, and remembrance items left by family members, friends, and visitors.

Once the removal process is complete, the city will move into the next phase, which includes removing the Pulse sign and clearing the site to prepare for construction.

The current timeline calls for 30 percent design plans by February 2026, site clearing to begin in March or April, and 60 percent design plans by May. Construction is expected to start in early fall 2026, with completion anticipated in late 2027.

City leaders say the careful preservation of these artifacts is meant to honor the victims and ensure the history of the site is respectfully carried forward as plans for the memorial take shape.

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