Today we went to visit the 9/11 Memorial in NYC. We had to reserve our spots ahead of time, with tickets printed and ready to go at the gate, but this is a free memorial. It looks like you can also get tickets when you get there, but why not just get it all set ahead of time?
The memorial is very well done. There are two massive inverted fountains in the footprints of the two towers. You can walk around the edges running your hand along the names of the many people who died on September 11, 2001. I saw several people doing that today (I’m pictured above). One woman and her father stopped when they found a name they clearly recognized and set at a rubbing on a piece of paper they had brought along. At the other tower memorial a little boy in a green shirt traced the letters of the names he passed. It’s really profound to see everyone’s personal experience with this place.
There is also a survivor’s tree next to the North Tower. The survivor’s tree has been destroyed and uprooted many times, but now it has found its home at the memorial. It is held down by braces, but stands as tall as ever. It is the only tree of a different species in the memorial.
Some day there will be a museum at the memorial as well, but during our visit they were still building it.
Tips:
- Reserve tickets ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about it when you get there.
- There are no bathrooms at the memorial, and the closest public restrooms are pretty far away. Be prepared.
- It’s not too crowded because they only let a certain number of people in every hour. I would suggest trying to visit while it’s still being finished because it keeps the crowds low. (Although if you wait a few months after it opens the crowds will probably die down as well).
Where: Northwest Corner of Albany and Greenich Streets
When: 10AM-8PM (check the website for changing times)
Cost: Free!
What was your experience at the memorial like?
Safe travels!!
Home&Away 
I saw Ground Zero a few months after 9/11, and am very interested in visiting again now that the memorial is up–it looks as though it is both sobering and a beautiful testament to the lives of those who died. Just 2 weeks ago I visited the site of the Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, PA, which is really stunning. Like the Footprints, a museum is yet to come, but the memorial stands. I have also visited the Pentagon memorial, and am thankful for the opportunity to have visited all three sites and remember the heroes and think of the family members.
After visiting this memorial I’d really like to see the other two as well. It’s really quite meaningful to be in the places where these events happened. It really makes you realize that every single person who died was someone special and unique. Thanks so much for posting those lovely sentiments here I completely agree.
I visited the site without any pre-planning or research and had no idea about the pre-printed ticket, but I still felt it was a meaningful visit.