Visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

9/11. The date of September 11, 2001 needs no explanation. Its the date that the world changed. The date that the United States of America saw its worst terrorist attack on domestic soil. Within the space of 24 hours, 2,997 lives were lost in a single attack, following the hijacking of 4 passenger aeroplanes. Two of those planes crashed into the Twin Towers of New York’s old World Trade Center. New York’s 9/11 Memorial and Museum pays respect and tribute those who were killed on that horrible day. The towers were reduced to rubble at the very site where the Memorial stands today. Two other planes were hijacked that day – one crashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC, while another was supposedly heading for the nation’s Capitol Building before its passengers reclaimed control and crashed it into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania in the ultimate act of bravery.

The events of 9/11 brought the world to a standstill. I was only 10 years old at the time, however I remember waking up that morning and seeing the new broadcast on the TV. I’m sure if you’re reading this you can also remember where you were on the date of September 11. When you visit New York, I feel like you have to visit the site of 9/11. It will be an emotionally draining experience, there’s no doubt about that. However the Museum is tastefully done and really provides visitors with a comprehensive insight into the attacks, the surrounding context and its broader implications on society. I think its important that we as humans learn from past tragedy so that it is never repeated. In this post I hope to convey everything you need to know about visiting this site.

• Check out my New York itinerary HERE.

9/11 Museum & Memorial – The Basics:

• Where? 180 Greenwich Street, New York
• When? The 9/11 Museum is open Wednesdays to Mondays (closed on Tuesdays) from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Last admission is at 3.30pm. The Memorial grounds are open daily from 9.00am – 8.00pm.
• How much? Admission to the Museum for adults costs $26.00 USD. Children aged 13-17 years get in for $20.00 USD, while those aged 7-12 years cost $15.00 USD. The 9/11 Museum is also included in the New York Sightseeing Pass and CityPass. Entrance to the Memorial grounds is free and does not require a ticket.
• How to get there: The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is located in Lower Manhattan. The closest Subway station is World Trade Center, which is serviced by the E line. Its around a 20 minute journey from Times Square by train.
• Website: https://www.911memorial.org/

Things to Know when Visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

The first thing you need to know about visiting the 9/11 Memorial goes without saying, but behave respectfully. Remember that while visiting the Museum is a popular thing to do in New York City, this is a place of somber reflection and learning. While you can take photographs (except in certain exhibits inside the Museum), its not a place to get all your selfies and posed photos. Also, expect to see some highly emotional and devastating content, especially in the historical exhibit. I personally wouldn’t recommend taking children under 12 to the Museum, but that’s ultimately up to you.

You don’t need to organise anything in advance if you’re just planning to stop by the Memorial, however if you’re going into the Museum (which you definitely should), a little forward planning is required. Admission operates on a timed basis, and you’ll select your time of entry when purchasing your ticket. While you theoretically could purchase a ticket on the day, chances are you’ll be highly restricted as to when you can get in. For this reason, make sure you book in advance on the Museum’s official website. Alternatively, both the New York CityPass and Sightseeing Pass include the 9/11 Museum in their attraction lineup, so you should look into them if you’ll be seeing a bunch of sites during your stay in the city.

You’ll go through a metal detector screening when you go inside the Museum. Once inside, I recommend taking the excellent audio tour, which is included with your admission. If you plan on taking in the Historical Exhibit (more details below), expect to spend about 3 hours inside the Museum.

The 9/11 Memorial Grounds

The 9/11 Memorial is centred around two gigantic reflective pools. Titled Reflective Absence, these gaping chasms fill the spaces that were once occupied by the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center, prior to the 2001 attacks. Today, they hold the largest manmade waterfalls in all of North America and convey a peaceful sense of reflection. The constant flow of water aims to block out the noise of the surrounding streets of Lower Manhattan, creating an appropriately somber atmosphere at the site.

The edges of the two pools are rimmed by panels bearing the names of all 2,997 victims that were killed on 9/11, in addition to the 6 lives that were lost in the earlier bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. People gather at the pools to pay their respects to those who lost their lives on the day. One little touch that really stuck with me was that the Memorial staff place a small flower in the name of each victim whose birthday falls on the specific day of your visit. If you’re looking for a certain name, you can look up exactly where you’ll find it by doing a search on the Museum’s website.

The 9/11 Memorial space was designed by architects Michael Arad and Peter Walker. The design was actually chosen from submissions made from over 63 countries, which really puts the international impact of 9/11 into perspective. There’s plenty of open space, benches and trees where you can reflect on the heinous events that took place here on that September day. I really can’t describe the feeling of being at the Memorial, in the shadow of the newly constructed One World Trade Center.

The Survivor Tree

Another noteworthy feature of the 9/11 Memorial grounds is the Survivor Tree. This is a Callary Pear that was discovered in a severely damaged state amongst the wreckage of the World Trade Center in October 2001. The tree was carefully removed and rehabilitated before ultimately being returned to the site in 2010. Having grown back, the tree serves as an beacon of hope, resilience and rebirth in the face of tragedy – a theme accentuated by the aftermath of the attacks in New York City. The survivor tree’s legacy goes beyond serving as a mere symbol at this site however. Seedlings from the tree are now donated each year to communities throughout the United States that also suffer tragedies. Hearing this story, I was truly touched and reminded that the good of humanity will endure through the worst of times.

The story of the Survivor Tree is one of many stories that you can learn if you take a guided tour of the 9/11 Memorial site. You can also learn more on a visit to the site by downloading the audio guide. It mainly focuses on content inside the Museum, but will also provide insight into parts of the grounds such as the 9/11 Memorial Glade.

The 9/11 Museum

The actual 9/11 Museum is located underneath the Memorial site, occupying a series of chambers in the bedrock between the two reflective pools. Once you pass through security, there’s a cafe and souvenir shop on ground level, but to get to the exhibits you’ll head down a massive escalator to reach the Museum’s exhibition space. Note that while you can stay in the Museum for as long as you like, once you leave, you can’t get back in. Both times I’ve visited the Museum, I’ve spent around 3 hours going through (and even that felt like I rushed through some sections).

I highly recommend picking up the free audio guide from the main counter in the Museum’s atrium (sure, you can download it on your phone as well, but we’re all about that phone battery life). The tour is narrated by Robert DiNero and is an excellent way of tying together your journey through the Museum. It highlights key objects and artefacts housed throughout the exhibition space. As you descend even further into the Museum, you’ll pass the Survivor’s Stairs. The preserved remains of this staircase are actually from the Towers and provided passage to many of the attack’s survivors out of the Towers, as well as entry to the responders, many of whom never left.

Foundation Hall

Now seven floors beneath ground level, you’ll be in Foundation Hall. This large open area is overlooked by a section of retaining wall which was built during the constructions of the Twin Towers to hold back the waters of the Hudson River. Foundation Hall houses a myriad of objects on display. Some of these that stuck with me include:

• The NYC Fire Department Engine Company 21 Firetruck: the burnt out remnants of this firetruck serve as a reminder of the fiery hell unleashed in the wake of the attacks and is a testament to the brave first responders that lost their lives in the ensuing rescue operation.
• The Last Column: the final beam to be removed from the remnants of the World Trade Center. It is covered in inscriptions, missing person posters and markings made by workers and family members of those lost in the attacks.
• The centrepiece artwork entitled Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on that September Morning: in the middle of the artwork, surrounded by various shades of blue is a quote from Virgil’s Aenid – “No Day Shall Erase You From the Memory of Time”. This fitting quote is forged in pieces of steel from the remains of the World Trade Center.

The Main Exhibits

In the heart of Foundation Hall, the Museum contains two major exhibits, both of which are in the footprint of the former towers. Note that you cannot take photos in either of these spaces, out of respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones in the attacks. I’m sure it goes without saying, but don’t disobey that rule.

The Historical Exhibit

The first of these is the Historical Exhibit. Entitled ‘September 11, 2001’, I found this to be the most interesting part of the 9/11 Museum and was where I spent the bulk of my time. Its broken up into three main sections. The first section provides a comprehensive exploration of the events of 9/11 as they played out minute by minute (including some very distressing and chilling recordings both from on land and in the air). This is followed by sections that look more broadly at the global events that created the historical context for the 9/11 attacks, and also the continued impact and lasting legacy of the attacks today.

Take your time going through this exhibit. With so much to see, hear and watch, it will really enhance your understanding of the events of this tragic day. Its an overwhelmingly immersive experience, and I honestly can’t think of any other museum that does anything like it.

The Memorium Exhibit

The other tower’s footprint houses the In Memoriam exhibit. As the name suggests, this reflective space remembers the individual victims of the 9/11 attacks. There’s portraits here of the thousands of people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, as well as a selection of donated personal effects that really humanise their memory. Through a series of touch screens you can learn more about the stories of the individuals who lost their lives.

The space also includes a theatre that cycles through recordings from family members of the victims, where you can sit in quiet contemplation while learning about the people whose lives were cut short. Its another draining exhibit but really humanises the deaths that were caused by the senseless attack.

It goes without saying that I highly recommend visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum when you’re in New York. Go in understanding that it will be an emotionally charged few hours. There’s no event that has impacted modern New York (and the world beyond) in the way that 9/11 has and this Museum serves as a reminder of the devastation of that day. With that said, it also celebrates the resolve and bravery of humanity through the stories of survivors and first responders, which is a really important message. There’s so many stories, so you could spend an eternity in the Museum. With only a few hours, combine the Audio Guide with the Historical Exhibition and I think you’ll get quite a lot out of your visit (while also leaving time to reflect by the Memorial Pools above ground).