9/11 Memorial & Museum

Overview

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a deeply moving tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks. The memorial features two massive reflecting pools in the footprints of the original Twin Towers, while the underground museum houses artifacts and personal stories.

Highlights

• The Reflecting Pools: Two enormous square waterfalls cascading into voids marking the exact footprints of the Twin Towers, ringed by bronze panels inscribed with every victim's name.
• The Survivor Stairs: The actual Vesey Street staircase used by hundreds of people to escape the World Trade Center complex on September 11.
• The Last Column: The final steel column removed from Ground Zero, covered in memorial inscriptions, missing-person posters, and tributes left by recovery workers.

History

The memorial opened on the 10th anniversary of the attacks in September 2011. The museum opened in 2014, built 70 feet below ground level within the original foundations of the Twin Towers.

Visitor Tips

• Memorial vs Museum: The outdoor memorial and reflecting pools are free and open daily. The underground museum requires timed tickets.
• Emotional Impact: The museum is deeply affecting. Allow yourself time and emotional space.
• Duration: 2–3 hours.