Remembering and Honoring the Victims of 9/11: A Visitor’s Guide to the 9/11 Memorial
The horrifying and tragic events of September 11, 2001 are indelibly etched on the hearts and minds of anyone who 
witnessed the attacks of that day. After ten years of planning and construction, a memorial to the victims of 9/11 opened on September 12, 2011 at the site where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center once stood. In the few months since its opening, more than a million people have visited the memorial, making it one of the most visited sites in New York City.
About the Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial is a tribute to all of the people who died in the terrorist attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001. Designed by architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker, whose designs were chosen after a worldwide competition, the memorial features two reflecting pools located in the footprints of the former Twin Towers. Each pool is nearly an acre in size, and the water spilling into the pools comes from the largest manmade waterfalls in North America.
Edging the reflecting pools are bronze panels inscribed with the names of the nearly 2,800 people who died on September 11 and the six who died in 1993. The names are cut in such a way that visitors can look through the names to the waterfall behind the panels and take rubbings or impressions with paper if they choose.
When the Memorial Plaza is finally complete, the pools will be surrounded by more than 400 oak trees. The Memorial Plaza will also be home to the planned 9/11 Museum, slated to open in 2012, which will commemorate the events of that day through multimedia displays, artifacts and archives. The Museum, located under the Memorial Plaza, will honor the people who lost their lives and give visitors the opportunity to learn more about them as well as share their own memories and stories of 9/11.
Visiting the Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial is open to the public, but advance visitor passes are required. The passes, which are free, allow you to visit at a designated date and time and are available at the 9/11 Memorial website (www.911memorial.org). Some same day passes are also available at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site on Vesey Street, the New York & Co. kiosk at City Hall and the NY Water Taxi booth at South Street Seaport. Each person is limited to four passes. The Memorial opens at 10 am each day and closes at 6 pm from January to March and 8 pm the rest of the year.
Once you have your pass, enter the Memorial at the Visitor Entrance on the northeast corner of Albany and Greenwich Streets. When you visit, expect to undergo security screening. All bags will be X-ray screened, and large bags are not allowed. You’ll have to pass through a metal detector, and you may be asked for identification that matches the name on the Visitor Pass. Bring your camera, but keep in mind that professional photography equipment, including tripods, is not permitted. You may bring in tribute items, provided they meet the size restrictions; remember not to place anything in or near the pools.
If you want to find a particular name at the Memorial, use the visitor guide on the Memorial website to learn the location before you go. The Memorial also offers apps for iPhones and Android devices that will assist you in locating individual names.
The Experience
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial is a somber and emotional experience. It’s likely that you’ll encounter friends and family members of the victims. The Memorial, while designed to be a place of hope and renewal, is also a quiet place for reflection. For that reason, parents should use discretion when planning a trip to the Memorial with children. The 9/11 Memorial website has a section devoted to tips for talking to children about terrorism, Osama bin Laden and September 11th.
In addition to the 9/11 Memorial, there are several other 9/11 tribute sites nearby. The Bell of Hope, presented to the City of New York by the City of London in 2002, stands in the churchyard of St. Paul’s Chapel and is rung whenever members of the parish wish to honor victims of terrorism. The FDNY Memorial Wall, located at the FDNY Ladder Company 3 Engine 10 firehouse, honors all of the firefighters who perished on that fateful day. A permanent exhibit at the nearby New York City Police Museum honors the contributions and sacrifices of New York’s police force, and several other gardens, sculptures and tributes are located in the area.
September 11, 2001 is a day that changed America forever, and the impact of the events of that day will be felt for generations to come. The 9/11 Memorial is a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives and a must-see for all visitors to New York.
This guest post article was written and provided by Charles Watkins who is an avid traveler, freelance writer, and consultant for various New York City hotels. He has written this article to honor and preserve the memory of those who lost their lives to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
