National September 11 Memorial

National September 11 Memorial
A poignant memorial to the thousands of people who were killed in the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001.

A sombre spot in the heady midst of downtown Manhattan, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum remembers the almost 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks on 11 September 2001.

In the months and years after 9/11, this former site of the towers of the World Trade Centre was a scar on the cityscape, and a place where survivors as well as the families of those who died tried to come to terms with what they had endured. The stunning landscaped plaza you'll find on the spot now serves both as a peaceful and reflective space where people from all over can come, as well as a fitting tribute to that fateful date.

More than a decade may have passed since the attacks, but still much of this area is still under construction. Among the seven buildings planned to be built here, One World Trade Centre – dubbed the Freedom Tower – is set to be the world's third tallest building when it's finished in 2013.

The site of both of the Twin Towers is today marked by two large reflecting pools, at the heart of which you'll see beautiful waterfalls. Into the side of each pond, the names of the 2,977 victims are engraved. Around this memorial you can explore Memorial Plaza with its 400 beautiful trees, which was opened a decade after the attacks. You can also see the Survival Tree, a pear tree which was burned and almost destroyed beneath the rubble, but which survived against the odds and now endures as a symbol of hope.

Below the Memorial Plaza lies the 9/11 Memorial Museum, scheduled to open its doors to visitors in 2014. The entry pavilion of the museum is intended to look like part of one of the towers laid on its side, and contains an array of artifacts that were collected in the wake of the attacks.

Located in Lower Manhattan, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum site can be reached by bus or subway. It’s free to access the memorial, but you'll need a visitor pass. Check the 9/11 Memorial website for more details.

Reviews of National September 11 Memorial

4.7
Top destination
5 - Excellent
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4 - Good
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" "4 - Good 20%
3 - Okay
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4/5 - Good

Lauren
12 Dec 2019

This is quite disorganised. You have to queue in one to exchange passes for tickets/purchase tickets. if you need to purchase tickets use the self service pods around the external building so you don't have to queue. Once you have your tickets you then have to join another queue to be admitted to the museum. Plan plenty of time we got there for 9am and didn't get in until 12pm. Once inside the museum is very moving with tributes to all those who lost their lives and quite emotional and unbelievable looking at the artifacts salvaged from the disaster. The audio guide is an extra charge once inside which you need to queue for.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
3 Dec 2019

A fabulous place that is peaceful and reflective, great to spend time just watching the world go by while remembering those that lost their lives, the memorial waterfall is simple but stunning.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
27 Oct 2019

We got to the memorial pools at 06:30am, incredibly moving and so peaceful with no one else around, very special being there just as the world was waking up. Too early for museum though which we did the next day.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
5 Aug 2019

Go to the museum it's a must do, can be used in conjunction with the NYC pass

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
4 Jul 2019

Moving and inspiring memorial. Not at all overdone or mawkish. Leave 3-4 hours to see everything. Younger kids, say under 12, probably wouldn’t really engage with displays or understand what it’s about.

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