| 9/11 Memorial and Museum | |
|---|---|
| The South Pool at the National September 11 Memorial in New York City |
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum, officially known as the **National September 11 Memorial & Museum**, honors the **2,977 victims** of the **September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks**, as well as the six people killed in the **1993 World Trade Center bombing**.
Located at the site of the former **Twin Towers** in New York City, the memorial is a national symbol of remembrance, resilience, and unity.
Location
- Situated at **Ground Zero** in **Lower Manhattan**
- Built on the footprint of the former **World Trade Center Twin Towers**
The Memorial
- Features **two large reflecting pools**, known as the **North Pool** and **South Pool**
- Each pool is nearly an acre in size and features the largest man-made waterfalls in North America
- Around the edges of the pools are **bronze panels** inscribed with the names of all those who died in:
- September 11, 2001 (WTC, Pentagon, and Flight 93) - The February 26, 1993 bombing
The Museum
- Opened to the public in **May 2014**
- Located underground beneath the memorial plaza
- Contains:
- Artifacts from the towers and the attacks (twisted steel beams, fire trucks, personal effects) - Audio recordings, survivor testimony, and video footage - A historical timeline of the events and aftermath
- The **“In Memoriam”** exhibition includes portraits and biographies of every victim
History and Construction
- Memorial opened on **September 11, 2011**, the 10th anniversary of the attacks
- Designed by architect **Michael Arad** and landscape architect **Peter Walker**
- Museum opened on **May 21, 2014**
- Built with both public and private funding, managed by the **National September 11 Memorial & Museum Foundation**
Symbolism
- The pools represent loss and absence
- The flowing water symbolizes healing and continuity
- The memorial is designed to be a place of **reflection, education, and national unity**
Visitor Information
- Museum requires admission; the memorial plaza is free and open daily
- More than 10 million people have visited since its opening
- Includes access to the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree that was found alive in the rubble and nursed back to health
Fun Facts
- Names are arranged by "meaningful adjacencies" — placing coworkers, friends, and family near each other
- The waterfalls drop 30 feet into voids that symbolize the towers’ absence
- President Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton all attended the 2011 dedication