Construction begins on temporary memorial at Pulse nightclub

ORLANDO, Fla. — Construction began Monday morning on an interim memorial at the shuttered Pulse Orlando nightclub, where 49 people were killed and dozens more were injured in a mass shooting in June 2016.

Orange County Regional History Center staff members on Sunday collected mementos left by visitors outside the vacant building so they may be preserved.

The removal of a fence that surrounded the structure marks the first time that the general public will be able to view the building since the massacre.

A new fence bearing images and messages will be erected around the entire property and will remain standing for 60 days.

Visitors will only have access to the nightclub's sign in the meantime.

The site will eventually become a permanent memorial and museum once a design plan is selected.

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Barbara Poma said the changes are welcome.

"It will be nice for Pulse not to look like a crime scene anymore, but a place that you can come and memorialize," she said.

Gail Bennett, of Michigan, traveled to Orlando with her daughter for a vacation. They chose to visit the closed venue Sunday.

"You can't say Orlando and think of Orlando, Florida, without thinking about what happened here," she said.

Debbie Wilson, of Apopka, said she can't drive on South Orange Avenue without thinking of bloodshed.

"We just need to be strong together, unite together, love each other," she said. "The (messages) that are stated here -- "Love one another" and "This has to stop" -- it radiates through everything that has taken place."

Cox Media Group