National September 11 Memorial & Museum

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum serves as the primary tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks, as well as the six lost in the 1993 bombing. The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools and manmade waterfalls rest as eerie footprints where the World Trade Center's Twin Towers once stood. The one-acre-sized pools are enclosed in bronze panels on which the names of every victim are inscribed.

Recent visitors cite the overall ambience of the National September 11 Memorial as somber but moving. One recent TripAdvisor user comments, “You cannot help but to reflect and be moved. It is an astounding tribute to those who lost their lives, really quite beautiful and very very clever.” You must book your visitor passes, preferably at least two to four weeks in advance, as only a limited number of tickets are distributed per month. Tickets are free, but donations are requested. You can order tickets online here.

The National September 11 Museum will span across 110,000 square feet and will relay the narrative of the attacks through a series of multimedia displays, real-time recordings, authentic artifacts, and an interactive table. The Museum is currently under construction. The opening date has yet to be announced.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is accessible via the Fulton Street subway stop, which is serviced by the A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4, or 5 lines. The memorial will be open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. until March 10, 2012. The Memorial will extend visiting hours until 8 p.m. from March 11, 2012 until October 8, 2012. For up-to-date information, check out the official National September 11 Memorial & Museum website.