911 Memorial and Museum

The Memorial itself consists of 2 square memorial fountains situated in the exact footprints of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center surrounded by a plaza landscaped with trees and, in particular, a special tree called the Survivor Tree. Each of the two fountains is surrounded by a 1/2 inch thick solid brass plate in which the names of the nearly 3000 people who lost their lives in the attacks have been not just engraved, but cut right through the thick brass so that light can pass through the letters from behind. The Survivor Tree was a callery pear tree that was rescued from the rubble, barely alive, and nursed back to health. It now stands as a symbol of hope and renewal.

Visiting the Memorial is free, however there is an admission charge to visit the museum except on Tuesday evenings when admission is free to a limited number of visitors. Please refer to the official website for more information on this before visiting the Memorial.

Visitors to the museum will enter through a pavilion that is design to resemble a partially collapsed building and then make their way down a ramp to the exhibits which are 70 feet underground. The museum will include remnants of the foundation and support columns of the World Trade Center itself along with equipment that was used in the recovery effort. It will also have a number of other artifacts related to the tragic events of that day. There are exhibits and displays to help tell the world about the many little stories that make up the larger story about this tragic event and also about the previous attack back in February of 1993.

Guided tours of the museum are available daily, but they must be pre-booked on the official website and there is an additional charge. A less expensive option is to download the free 9/11 Museum Audio Guide App for your smartphone from the AppStore or Google play.

Associated with the 9/11 Museum is the 9/11 Tribute Center located on the south side of Liberty Street just west of Greenwich Street. This is adjacent to the southeast corner of the Memorial. The 9/11 Tribute centre features a gallery and also offers guided tours of the Memorial by volunteers who where directly affected by the events of 9/11 — survivors, family members, rescue workers, recovery workers and volunteers. They share their personal insights into the horrible events and the healing process in which the Memorial serves an ongoing role. There is a modest charge for these tours. You can get all the details from their website: 9/11 Tribute Center.

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