The 9/11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center honors the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. When visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, you will find both create a somber and reflective atmosphere.
9/11 Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial consists of twin reflecting pools situated outdoors in the footprint of the former Twin Towers. The 9/11 Memorial is free and open to the public seven days a week, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
The surrounding plaza features the names of those who perished. If you are interested in located a victim, you can look up their name location on the memorial website. Every name has a code containing N for North Pool or S for South Pool, followed by a panel number that locates it on one of the Memorial Pools.
Low Mobility Note:
The outdoor 9/11 Memorial is all one level. Nana was able to navigate the memorial without issue however note the distance from the accessible drop off point (Liberty Street and Trinity Place) to the memorial is one city block and the memorial itself spans multiple city blocks so it is a large area to cover.
The accessibility page of the memorial’s website includes a section on the Memorial’s design that is interesting and worth a read as well.
9/11 Museum
Like the 9/11 Memorial, the 9/11 Museum is a profound tribute to the events of that day and the lives affected by them. A separate experience from the memorial, the museum is also located at the World Trade Center site. The museum provides a comprehensive narrative through artifacts, multimedia displays, and personal testimonies.
The museum requires date/time ticketed entry which can be purchased on their website. The museum also offers guided tours and there is an audio guide available for purchase narrated by Robert De Niro.
The 9/11 Museum is another location where large bags and backpacks are not allowed. There is a bag-check service for a fee, so it’s recommended to travel with smaller bags.
Children Visiting the museum
Since I focus on family & multigenerational travel, I wanted to touch on children visiting the museum. The 9/11 Memorial Museum is a solemn space that can evoke strong emotions. The museum notes that the “historic exhibitions may not be appropriate for visitors under 10 years of age”. We took my 12.5 year old and I felt that he was at an appropriate age and maturity level for the visit however I personally would not have taken him at a younger age.
I inquired to the museum staff about anything I should know when taking my almost teen and they were helpful in calling out a section of the historical exhibit that includes video tribute to those who fell or jumped from the towers. This section is behind a wall and marked so we were able to bypass it.
The museum website provides resources for youth and families which includes a section for talking to children about 9/11. The museum runs age-appropriate events as well as a 45 minute Youth & Family Tour at times during the year. Please check the website here for event & tour schedules.
Low Mobility Note:
We found the 9/11 Memorial Museum easy to navigate for Nana with low mobility. Ramps and elevators are available, and staff members are on hand to assist visitors with mobility challenges. The museum has wheelchairs to borrow, and we were able to check Nana’s walker during our visit. We choose to purchase entrance tickets and utilized the audio guide for our mid-morning visit and we did not participate in a guided tour.
The museum was crowded so for our next visit, we would consider the ‘Early Access Museum Tour (60 minutes)’ to further help avoid the wheelchair / walker navigation challenges while in a crowded space.
I hope this was helpful when planning your visit.
Adventure on!
