The 9/11 Memorial Museum: History and Remembrance
Located within the footprints of the original Twin Towers, the 9/11 Memorial Museum descends directly into the foundational bedrock of the World Trade Center site. This expansive, 110,000-square-foot facility offers a solemn and deeply moving exploration of the 2001 and 1993 terrorist attacks through monumental artifacts, first-person testimonies, and historical records.
The Historical Exhibition
The core of the museum is divided into three distinct chronological sections: Before 9/11, Events of the Day, and After 9/11. The “Events of the Day” sequence uses a combination of media and recovered artifacts to walk visitors through the precise timeline of the hijacked airplanes and the terrorist attacks at both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The “After 9/11” section then explores the immediate aftermath, the massive recovery efforts, and the lasting global impact of these tragic events.
In Memoriam
The Memorial Exhibition, known as “In Memoriam,” provides a quiet, dedicated space honoring those who lost their lives. Walls covered in individual photographs of the victims surround the room. Interactive touchscreen tables allow families to learn more about each person, view personal objects, and listen to recorded audio remembrances.
Foundation Hall & The Last Column
Foundation Hall is the largest physical space in the museum. Here, you can stand beside the “slurry wall”—a surviving retaining wall of the original World Trade Center that remarkably withstood the devastation. In the center of the hall stands the “Last Column.” This massive, 36-foot-high steel beam was the final piece ceremonially removed from Ground Zero, marking the end of the nine-month recovery effort.
Age Appropriateness:
The museum deals with heavy, emotional themes. While families are welcome, parents should carefully consider how to guide younger children through the Historical Exhibition.
Address: 180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007.
Nearest Subways: Take the E train to the World Trade Center station; the 1 train to WTC Cortlandt; or the A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains to Fulton Street.
Website: 911memorial.org
