9/11 Memorial and Museum

The United States on September 11, 2001, witnessed one of the most disastrous events in its history—when a group of terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners. They crashed two into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the fourth, United Airlines Flight 93, into a field in Pennsylvania after the crew and passengers attempted to wrest control of the airplane from the terrorists. Approximately 3,000 lives were lost as a result of the attacks, including 246 onboard, 2,606 victims in the World Trade Center vicinity and its surrounding area, and 125 at the Pentagon.

 

The 9/11 event is the day that brought an abrupt change in American history when the World Trade Center towers were razed and the Pentagon was destroyed. And a sequence of upsetting events that unfolded across the nation was a turning point in American History. These events altered National security, politics, and global relations in such a way that 9/11 is forever etched into the minds of not just Americans but everyone across the globe.

 

It became evident after these events that there should be a monument to honor & remember the victims, comfort those in mourning, and teach future generations more about the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001. This vision was brought to life by the construction of the 911 Museum and Memorial. The National September 11 Memorial Museum is a significant historic landmark in the U.S. It’s a place that honors the victims and their families and also provides a deeper understanding of the events that occurred on September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. 

 

In October 2001, after the 9/11 attacks, a damaged tree was discovered at Ground Zero. It had burnt and broken branches. It was then removed from the rubble and placed in the care of the New York Parks and Recreation Department. When it was recovered, it was moved to the Memorial in 2010. The Callery pear tree is now known as the Survivor Tree. It is a reminder of hope and resilience. 

 

 

What to Know

After the years following the attacks, the World Trade Center was redeveloped by New York City. The memorial’s construction was also in the plans. There was a competition held worldwide for the design of the memorial and it had over 5,000 participants. The design which was selected is known as the “Reflecting Absence”, by Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker. The design “Reflecting Absence” features two reflecting pools on the footprints of the Twin Towers. It features bronze panels that are covered with the names of 2,983 victims of the attacks and also the victims of the World Trade Center bombings. The names are carefully arranged by the designers. 

 

The pools also feature waterfalls that descend into the deep voids of the pools. These sunken pools with waterfalls are the most beautiful and tragic things about the memorial and represent the absence marked by the destruction of the Twin Towers. The falling water represents stillness and loss. It is a great place for reflecting and remembering the past. 

 

Right next to the pools is 9/11 Memorial Plaza. It’s an area that has a forest filled with over 400 swamp white oaks and is very peaceful. You can pay your respects here and it is also open 24/7. 

 

The memorial is a place that honors the victims and their families. And the museum provides a deeper understanding of the events that took place on that day. In 2014, May 21, the Museum opened to the public. Davis Brody Bond designed the museum and it is housed in a structure that is merged into the World Trade Center’s foundation. The museum has several exhibitions and libraries. When you first enter the museum, there is a suspended steel beam from the World Trade Center that marks the wreckage. 

 

The Historical Exhibition is one of the most detailed parts of the Museum. It explains the events of 9/11 including the hijacking, the lost lives, and the aftermath of the attacks. The exhibition uses multimedia displays, photos, videos, artifacts, and more. This also covers the immediate response of the first responders, the collapse of towers, and the recovery efforts that followed. 

 

When you enter the Museum, you will find a section for remembering the ones who lost their lives. The great Memorial Hall has a collection of photos and personal items which belonged to the people killed. You will also find shoes, ID cards, personal letters, and clothes here. And there is a gallery that showcases how the Museum was founded and built. It explains the efforts that go into preserving the history of 9/11. You will get to know how the stories were collected and the artifacts were gathered for the Museum. You will also get to know how it’s a site for future generations and for them to understand the history of 9/11. 

 

Then there is a Survivor’s Staircase on display. It’s an artifact taken from the South Tower of the World Trade Center. The stairs were used by many survivors to escape from the building before its collapse. And a towering steel column that’s the last piece of the World Trade Center to be removed from Ground Zero. It is covered in messages, names, and symbols left by those who were involved in cleaning and recovery efforts. 

 

The Museum also remembers the frontline heroes of September 11 including firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and other first responders who risked their lives to save others. The self-sacrifice of these people is resonating within the Museum, especially in the section that is dedicated to people who selflessly attempted to rescue others and many of them did not make it. 

 

The Museum also explores the impact of the 9/11 attacks on events such as the War on Terror, changes in international security, and the conflicts between Afghanistan and Iraq. The exhibit addresses how 9/11 changed terrorism in the minds of the people and how nations responded to the terrorism threats across the globe.

 

The 9/11 Memorial Museum not only acts as a place of remembrance and respect for those who sacrificed themselves but also as a space for learning. It has many educational programs. And the exhibitions displayed within the Museum help describe the attacks. The memories of the victims are preserved here which also ensures that future generations will know about 9/11 and how the event reshaped the world. 

 

The Memorial and Museum is a place for healing and mourning the loved ones for many families and it is the case for many survivors and first responders as well. Several families who visited the Memorial have recounted their stories about the place and left messages at the memorial. It also offers a broader connection to the community affected by the tragedy. 

 

Also, the Memorial and Museum have gained recognition primarily for what they stand for – the spirit of resilience and hope. The process of rebuilding the World Trade Center site, the development of the Memorial, and last but not least, the Museum, exemplify the human determination that can survive despite the greatest tragedy. This challenge is captured in the history of the Memorial and Museum, which underscores the essence of hope, people’s will to stand together, and bravery.

 

Standing shoulder to shoulder with survivors, the world can not only honor the memories of countless victims but also cherish the unity and strength of the country in the aftermath of the attacks. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum ensures that no one forgets what happened on 11th September 2001. It also educates the future generations who are poorly acquainted with these tragic events. Overall, the Memorial and Museum is a place where you can reflect and remember. And it also offers space for healing.

 

How to Get There

Public transportation is a great option to get there. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum are located in lower Manhattan, at 180 Greenwich Street. The nearest subway stations are Fulton Street, Chambers Street, World Trade Center, and Cortlandt Street. These all are at a distance of less than 10 minutes. The buses that come to the 9/11 Memorial site are M55 Southbound, M55 Northbound, M20 Southbound, and others. You can also get a taxi or drive directly to the site. But the parking is very limited there and the Memorial itself does not provide any parking space.

 

Best Time to Visit 

If you want to avoid crowds, then visit as early as possible when the Museum opens and during low seasons. Try to book your tickets in advance to avoid hassle. You can also visit during weekdays as they are usually less busy in comparison to weekends. If you want to see the pools lit up against the city’s skyscrapers, then visit in the evening. 

 

Features and Highlights 

 

- Located in the heart of New York, in lower Manhattan.

- Spans over an area of 110,000 square feet.

- Features various artifacts, photos, recorded testimonials, and messages of unity and healing. 

- Over 10,000 artifacts are on display and two pools, which are known as the Twin Pools.

- Each pool spans over the area of an acre in size. 

- Largest man-made waterfall in North America.

- Used to be the site of the tallest monuments in the world—the North Tower (1,368 feet tall) and the South Tower (1,362 feet tall), also known as the Twin Towers. 

- Home to the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree that was recovered from the site.

- Features a Memorial Glade right behind the Survivor Tree.

- The Memorial Glade is a part of Memorial Plaza which is a public space filled with swamp white oaks. 

- The entrance to the Museum looks like a partially collapsing building and features a permanent collection.

- Features many educational programs, exhibitions, photos, recorded testimonials, and more.