The 9/11 Memorial and Museum: Planning Your Visit

For many visiting New York City, the World Trade Center site is a mandatory pilgrimage. The events of September 11, 2001, altered global history, and the memorial built in Lower Manhattan is one of the most powerful architectural achievements in the world. However, visiting the site requires emotional preparation and logistical planning, as it is a place of active mourning.

The Memorial Pools (Free and Outdoors)

The outdoor Memorial consists of two massive reflecting pools set within the exact footprints of the original Twin Towers. The names of every person who died in the attacks are inscribed in bronze around the edges of the pools. Water cascades down the dark granite walls into a central void. The outdoor plaza is completely free to enter and is deeply serene, shaded by hundreds of white oak trees.

The Underground Museum

• The Experience:

  The 9/11 Museum is located mostly underground, descending to the bedrock foundation of the original towers. It contains massive artifacts, including crushed fire trucks and the "Survivors' Stairs." It is an incredibly heavy, emotionally exhausting experience that takes about three hours to walk through.

• Ticketing:

  Unlike the outdoor pools, you must buy a ticket to enter the museum. During the summer, time slots sell out quickly. You must book your entry time online in advance. Free admission is usually offered on Monday afternoons, but lines are massive.

• Etiquette:

  Remember that this is a graveyard. Loud talking, laughing, or taking inappropriate selfies by the names on the pools is considered deeply offensive by locals.

After visiting the memorial, take a short walk to the Oculus (the massive white ribbed transit hub) or walk down to Battery Park for views of the harbor to decompress.