How to Visit the 9/11 Memorial
If you were alive in 2001, odds are you know exactly where you were the morning of Tuesday, September 11th. Many people on the East Coast of the United States were commuting to work. In New York, some locals were on their way to vote in the gubernatorial primary. Or maybe you were dropping your kids off at school. No matter what, if you were in New York City, you probably remember a beautiful cloudless blue sky, until disaster struck. Four commercial aircraft were hijacked, and two of them were flown into the iconic twin towers of the original World Trade Center site. First responders raced towards Lower Manhattan, bravely willing to risk life and limb in an effort to save lives. That day claimed 2,977 innocent lives. 9/11 would eventually claim thousands more lives due to 9/11-related illnesses. Throughout New York City there are tributes and memorials to the events of 9/11, and of course there’s the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Here is how to visit the 9/11 memorial to pay your respects.
The World Trade Center Site
It’s important to remember that the entire World Trade Center site is a 9/11 memorial. The original World Trade Center Site had 7 buildings. All 7 were destroyed, as was the train station and shopping mall below them. We strongly suggest taking a World Trade Center site tour with a local tour company versus simply exploring on your own. There are many hidden World Trade Center relics within the new World Trade Center campus. For example, there is a section of the original World Trade Center subway station preserved and woven into the new design. It is a sophisticated way of including the past with the present. If you find this special area, you will see a door with orange spray paint on it. That spray paint was left by Massachusetts Task Force 1 during search and rescue operations.
A tour of the World Trade Center site will help you understand why the original twin towers and World Trade Center complex were built to begin with, what life was like working in the buildings, the events of 9/11, and the future of the site. Many people refer to the World Trade Center Site as “Ground Zero,” but it is not not Ground Zero. Ground Zero is a place where everything has been destroyed and nothing grows. A visit to the new World Trade Center Site will show you that it has risen like a Phoenix, stronger than it was before.
Visiting the 9/11 Museum
A visit to the 9/11 Museum is an incredibly meaningful experience. We suggest you buy your tickets at least 24 hours in advance, and that you purchase your tickets directly from the 9/11 Museum Website. This will guarantee you the most efficient entry. Expect to spend approximately 2 hours in the museum.
While we always love promoting tours, the 9/11 Museum is expertly crafted and it may be better to explore on your own, so you can really take everything in, or move ahead if the emotions get too overwhelming. The 9/11 Museum has also put together a wonderful set of audio tours on their app. Download their app before you visit for full enjoyment. There is a special audio tour for kids to help you answer any tricky questions.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial consists of two reflecting pools that stand in the footprints of the original Twin Towers. As you stare into them, you will see two levels of waterfalls that seem to be falling into eternity. Around the perimeters of these pools are bronze plates. Carved into the bronze plates are the names of the 2977 innocent people who lost their lives that day, as well the names of those who lost their lives in 1993 World Trade Center site bombing. When you visit, remember this is an active grave site. Be respectful. The person next to you may be mourning a loved one. People often come and place flowers, flags, and other tokens on the names of their loved ones. If you see a single white rose, that means today would have been that person’s birthday.
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