Attraction
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met on Fifth Avenue is one of the world's great encyclopaedic art museums, spanning five thousand years of art from every corner of the globe.
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
Twin reflecting pools mark the footprints of the original towers at the World Trade Center, with an underground museum telling the story of 11 September 2001.
At a glance
- Type
- Memorial and museum
- Area
- Financial District, New York, United States
- Official site
- 911memorial.org
Good to know
- Memorial free
- Free audio guide
- Timed museum tickets
- Audio guides in nine languages
Why we recommend it
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum occupies the site of the original World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. Two vast reflecting pools sit within the footprints of the Twin Towers, with water falling into a central void, and the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks of 11 September 2001 and 26 February 1993 are inscribed on bronze parapets around their edges. The plaza, planted with swamp white oaks, is a quiet place in the middle of a busy district.
The memorial is free and open every day from 8am to 8pm, and you can walk around it at your own pace. A free audio guide is available through the Bloomberg Connects app. Look out for the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear recovered from the rubble and replanted on the plaza, and for the white roses placed by the names of victims on their birthdays.
The museum lies below ground, between the foundations of the towers. Its exhibitions combine artefacts, recordings and personal stories: the Survivors' Stairs, twisted steel from the buildings, fire engines and thousands of small personal objects. The historical exhibition covers the day itself and its aftermath in detail, and some rooms contain distressing material, with warnings at the entrance to the most difficult sections. Parents should judge whether it suits younger children.
The museum is open Wednesday to Monday from 9am to 7pm, with last entry at 5:30pm, and is closed on most Tuesdays, apart from select dates listed on its website. Advance tickets are required, and audio guides are available in nine languages, including American Sign Language. The museum suggests planning at least 45 to 90 minutes, but many visitors spend two hours or more. Quiet, respectful behaviour is expected throughout the site.
The memorial is at 180 Greenwich Street, surrounded by the new World Trade Center towers. The Oculus transport hub, with PATH trains and connections to several subway lines, is right beside it, and Cortlandt Street and Fulton Street stations are close by. One World Observatory, St Paul's Chapel and the Hudson River waterfront at Brookfield Place are all within a few minutes' walk.
National September 11 Memorial & Museum FAQs
Is the 9/11 Memorial free?
Yes. The outdoor memorial is free and open daily from 8am to 8pm; the museum requires a ticket.
What are the museum's opening hours?
Wednesday to Monday from 9am to 7pm, with last entry at 5:30pm.
Is the museum open on Tuesdays?
It is closed on most Tuesdays and opens only on select Tuesdays listed on the website.
Do you need to book museum tickets?
Yes. Advance ticket purchase is required.
How long should you allow for the museum?
The museum suggests at least 45 to 90 minutes, though many visitors stay two hours or more.
Is there an audio guide?
Yes. A free memorial audio guide is available on Bloomberg Connects, and museum audio guides come in nine languages, including ASL.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Some exhibits contain distressing material, so parents should decide whether it is appropriate for younger children.
What is the address?
180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007.