Tips for Visiting the 9/11 Memorial Site

Two decades have passed since the tragic 9/11 attacks in Lower Manhattan. In that time, for survivors, there have been immense challenges, including mental health challenges, as well as physical conditions linked to exposure at the site.

As a country, we’re still reeling from 9/11 all these years later, but we do have a way to honor those people who sacrificed on that day by visiting the 9/11 Memorial.

Every year, the memorial attracts more than six million visitors. More than three million go to the museum. 

The memorial is located next to the World Trade Center Oculus Transportation Hub, so you can easily get there via public transportation. Beyond that, the following are some things to know. 

It Can Be an Emotional Experience

If you’re taking your children to the memorial and the museum, you need to remember that it can be a highly emotional experience for some visitors, including those who might have personal connections to the site. While you don’t have to be completely quiet, it is a good idea to prepare your children to be respectful of the setting. 

Everything as far as the design and atmosphere of the memorial and museum is subdued. For example, the pool that makes up the memorial is dark and simple. In the museum, there’s video footage of the attacks and photos of the people who lost their lives, and there are some tunnel-like areas.

Make sure your children can handle this and prepare yourself for it as well. 

If you’re very worried about your possible emotional response, it may be better to visit just the memorial and not the museum. The memorial is outdoors and open-air, which may be better in your particular situation. 

As far as kids in general, the 9/11 Museum could be upsetting or hard to understand if they’re younger. There is an audio tour available for older kids between 8 and 11 that makes things age-appropriate. There’s advice available from the museum on how to talk to your kids about terrorism, so you might want to go over that before your visit. 

Start Inside the Museum If You’re Going

If you’re going to visit the museum and memorial, begin inside the museum. Try to get there early to help you avoid crowds. You’ll also get more context if you organize your visit this way. When you go through the exhibits, you move through a timeline of events. 

There are rotating exhibits, but the core exhibits feature archival video and audio recordings, first-person testimonies, images, and artifacts. The Foundation Hall area of the museum is where the surviving wall from the original World Trade Center is. 

Visit the Oculus

While you’re in the area, take the time to go across the street from the memorial and museum to the World Trade Center Oculus Transportation Hub and Westfield Mall. You can’t miss this architectural masterpiece, which Santiago Calatrava designed. The oculus is meant to look like a dove taking flight from the hand of a child. The idea is to evoke feelings of peace in contrast to the destruction of 9/11. 

In the mall are restaurants and shops. 

General Tips

Along with what’s above, the following are some general tips to keep in mind for your visit:

• The hours can vary daily, so check before you go, but the Museum is open year-round except for special hours on 9/11. 
• Plan for a visit that will last around two hours. You can take the audio tour, which lasts for around an hour, and you might want another 1 ½ hour or so to explore on your own after the tour. The guided tour is worth your while, and you’ll have a lot more understanding of what you’re seeing. 
• You can buy your tickets ahead of time online. 
• Some of the New Your City pass options available will include discounts on tickets to the museum. 
• The Observatory at One World Trade Center overlooks the 9/11 Memorial and is also an excellent thing to do during a visit. Buy your tickets in advance, and then you take an elevator pod ride to the top. From there are three levels of the observatory. 
• The 9/11 Memorial is free, but there is an entry cost for the National September 11^th Museum. 

Going to the memorial and museum is different from anything else you’ll do on a trip to New York City and are absolutely worth your time. There’s a lot of beauty in terms of the design and architecture, some sadness, and a chance to reflect.