9/11 Memorial & Museum
Time Needed: full-day, half-day
Experience Type: historic landmark, museum
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum honors the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11 and 1993 World Trade Center attacks. Through powerful exhibits, architecture, and artifacts, it offers a moving tribute to loss, resilience, and the enduring human spirit in the heart of Lower Manhattan.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Visit the Reflecting Pools – Stand beside twin waterfalls set in the original tower footprints, inscribed with the names of every victim lost in both attacks.
- Explore the Memorial Museum – View artifacts, personal items, and multimedia exhibits that chronicle the events of September 11 and the strength of those who responded. Get your tickets.
- See “The Survivor Tree” – Visit the Callery pear tree that endured the attacks, nurtured back to life as a living symbol of renewal and hope.
- Step Inside St. Paul’s Chapel – A block away, this 18th-century church miraculously survived the attacks and became a sanctuary for first responders and volunteers.
- Visit Liberty Park and The Sphere – See the bronze sculpture recovered from the Twin Towers’ plaza, now standing as a symbol of endurance overlooking the Memorial.
Itinerary Idea: Explore Ground Zero with a guide who shares a first-hand account of September 11 while leading you to the Memorial, the largest man-made waterfalls in North America, and the Survivor Tree, a symbol of resilience.
Photo Credit: Sedric Benson/Unsplash