9/11 Memorial Facts
The 9/11 Memorial in New York City commemorates the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
The National September 11 Memorial Museum opened to the public in 2013.
The museum exhibits artifacts from the attacks, emphasizing the importance of remembrance and reflection.
It remains one of New York City’s most visited attractions 19 years after the worst terrorist attack in American history.
The building sits between Michael Arad’s 9/11 Memorial’s twin pools.
It is part of a larger master plan that includes the Freedom Tower, which stands 1,776 feet tall.
It incorporates some of the original World Trade Center structures and is one of the most profound structures of its kind – both physically and metaphorically.
It features two enormous reflecting pools, each in the footprint of the original Twin Towers, surrounded by bronze panels with victims’ names.
Facts about the 9/11 Memorial make it a poignant tribute to the lives lost and a symbol of resilience and unity.
Here are some astonishing 9/11 Memorial facts that will leave an impression.
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The Majority of the Museum is Underground
Unlike most museums, this one is primarily underground.
An entrance ramp will take you 70 feet down to the bottom, where you will find a massive empty hall once a part of the North Tower.
The intentional emptiness is intended to evoke a sense of absence and loss for the attack’s victims.
Last Column and Slurry Wall
The Slurry Wall is the remains of a wall that survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
It’s been cleverly incorporated into the design of Foundation Hall to represent survival and determination.
The Last Column, a 36-foot piece of steel recovered from the site cleanup in May 2002, is another significant artifact. It was the final item recovered from the area.
The Pavilion at the Entrance
The entry pavilion is modeled after a partially collapsed building, with a striated facade reminiscent of the Twin Towers.
Recordings and Artifacts
During the tragedy, they collected over 10,000 artifacts but only publicly displayed about 10% of them.
This includes wrecked emergency vehicles, photographing victims, and dramatic video of the attack and its aftermath.
The collection also contains over 2,000 oral testimonies and recordings that serve as firsthand oral histories.
The Museum is more than just a collection.
Learn the insights and untold stories with 9/11 Museum facts, shedding light on the events that changed our world.
Visitors Can Share Their Own Voice Experiences
The ‘Reflecting on 9/11’ gallery section of the Museum is commendable, with visitors able to record their 9/11 memories in a video booth.
Each individual’s story is recorded and eventually added to the Museum’s oral history collection.
Some of these are even used in media presentations frequently shown to the public.
Building Cost
The building costs $700 million to construct and around $52 million annually.
Security alone is estimated to cost $10 million per year.
A Museum Within a Piece of History
The original World Trade Center structures are hidden in the depths of the building, making it one of the most profound buildings of its kind in more ways than one.
Guests are guided to the WTC’s foundation via a steel and glass structure, while two large steel tridents from the original North Tower support the atrium and museum entrance.
More than 1,000 pieces of World Trade Center steel have been distributed to these locations by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Set on a journey through history’s defining moments with your 9/11 Memorial Museum tickets
Change of Plan
Initially, there was to be a nearby International Freedom Center dedicated to battles for freedom throughout history.
It was scrapped because it might criticize American policies.
Flight 93
United Airlines Inc. Flight 93 was one of four planes hijacked in the 9/11 attacks.
Informing the passengers on United Flight 93 of previous plane attacks, they attempted to retake plane control from the hijackers.
As a result, the hijackers purposefully crashed the plane into Somerset Country, in a Pennsylvania field rather than at their unknown destination.
The crash killed all 44 people on board, including the hijackers.
They built a victim memorial on a field in Stoystown, Pennsylvania. The 9/11 Museum has preserved portions of the flight.
America’s Largest Man-Made Waterfalls
Above the Museum are two of the country’s largest man-made waterfalls, which cascade into two large reflecting pools.
The Twin Pools mark the locations of the former North and South Towers.
The waterfalls, which fall from 30 feet into the square pools, spill much deeper into the holes in the center of the square pools.
The Globe
Before the construction of the Museum, a giant globe sculpture known as the Sphere or Sphere at Plaza Fountain stood between the twin towers.
Unfortunately, it was damaged during the World Trade Center collapse and was eventually relocated to nearby Battery Park City.
Fritz Koenig, a German artist, designed the world’s most giant monumental bronze sculpture.
Firsthand Knowledge
Visitors can better understand the tragedy through the Museum’s daily talks and discussions.
Every day around noon, a museum staff member talks about one specific artifact.
Furthermore, every Tuesday at 4 pm, survivors or family members of victims share their experiences with the public as part of an initiative called “We Were There.”
Admission is Free
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is free to enter every Monday from 3.30 to 5 pm.
Remember that this is done on a first-come, first-served basis, so you may have to wait. You can download a free audio guide if you need to know more about the Museum.
Aside from that, an adult admission ticket for the 9/11 Memorial costs $33.
Fire Truck
The FDNY Ladder Company 3 fire truck is one of the more significant artifacts at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
The truck sustained significant damage on September 11 and is now displayed at the Museum.
It was so large that it had to be lowered into the Museum using a crane.
It was also placed there as a memorial to the 12 firefighters who died in the attack.
Tree of Callery
One month after the attack, rescuers discovered a badly damaged tree at 9/11 Ground Zero.
Its roots had snapped and burned, and its branches had broken.
They carefully removed it from the rubble and gave it to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for rehabilitation.
Following its recovery, the tree returned to the 9/11 Memorial and now stands as a symbol of survival and rebirth.
Rescue Operation
The rescue and recovery cleanup of the 1.8 million tons of wreckage from the World Trade Center site took 9 months after the September 11 attacks.
More 9/11 Memorials Around the World
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum are two of many memorials for 9/11 victims worldwide.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has distributed steel from the World Trade Center collapse to other memorial sites nationwide.
Awareness of the 9/11 Memorial Museum facts provides a deeper appreciation of the historical context and the impact of the attacks on the world.
Featured Image: 911memorial.org