The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a memorial created as a tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade. The site is an educational and historical institution honoring the victims of 9/11 and its continued global significance. The Memorial is located at the site of the former World Trade Center complex, and occupies approximately half of the 16-acre site. The 9/11 Memorial features two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools, each about an acre in size, set within the footprints of the original Twin Towers
The memorial consists of large cascading waterfalls that replace the footprint of the Twin Towers. The names of all the victims are carved into bronze walls that surround the waterfalls. Competition for the 9/11 Memorial was held in 2003. A total of 5,201 design submissions were received from 63 nations.
The memorial’s centerpiece is two twin reflecting pools that are nearly an acre in size each and feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. These pools are known as the Twin Memorial Pools and are located where the Twin Towers once stood. These pools represent large voids, open and visible reminders of the absence created by 9/11. The title of the design is called Reflecting Absence. It was created by Michael Arad and Peter Walker, who won the competition
The nearly 3,000 names of the men, women, and children killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 are inscribed on bronze walls surrounding the twin Memorial pools. The names have been stencil-cut into the walls, allowing visitors to look through the names at the water. At night, light shines up through the voids created by each letter of a name.
The 9/11 Memorial is located at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. Visitors can access the Memorial by presenting a visitor pass at the 9/11 Memorial entry located on the corner of Albany and Greenwich Streets. The following are general rules about visiting the memorial:
- Visitor passes are required and will be checked upon entry.
- Enter the 9/11 Memorial at the intersection of Albany and Greenwich Streets (1 Albany St.)
- Visitor may be asked to show valid photo ID matching their visitor pass name.
- All visitors and baggage are subject to security screening.
- Please limit the items that you bring with you. No baggage larger than 8”x17”x19” will be permitted, and bag storage is not available.
- Public restrooms are not available on site.
- You will only be admitted at the time indicated on your visitor pass. Please do not arrive more than 30 minutes prior to your reservation.
- Please do not throw or place anything in the Memorial pools.
The site of the memorial was inaugurated on September 11 2011, on the 10-year anniversary of the events of 911. The memorial was opened to the public on September 12 2011. Tickets for the memorial and the museum can be purchased at 911memorial.org
