Why you Should Visit The 9/11 Memorial & Museum

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People from all over the world know the significance of September 11, 2001. It's the fateful day when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and one into a field, killing a total of 2,996 people. Though it seems like a distant memory, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City keeps the event preserved in history. Here is why you should visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

The Memorial

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With the two largest manmade waterfalls in the states, this memorial piece, called "Reflecting Absence," symbolizes the inability to fill the physical and symbolical footprints left behind by the attacks. The near acre-size pools are surrounded by the names of people who lost their lives in both the 1993 and 2001 World Trade Center tragedies. These names include victims who were in the buildings, on the planes, and on the ground as first responders.

Surrounding the pools are 400 swamp white oak trees and one Callery pear tree, known as the Survivor Tree after suffering damage from the attacks. Another section, the Memory Glade, represents those who died or became ill after 9/11 as a direct result of the disaster. Keeping the victims' memory's alive is an important reason to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

The Museum

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The 9/11 Museum contains fire truck remains, personal artifacts, and a piece of steel from one of the buildings. You'll hear personal accounts from witnesses and victims, including voicemail recordings made by plane passengers to loved ones. One notable recording was made by Bradley Fetchet to his mother, in which he assured her it was the North Tower that was hit, and not the South Tower where he worked. The call was made only minutes before United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the second tower below Fetchet's office.

Multiple TVs throughout the museum display news clips from the day the story broke. It's an eerie experience, as you can see the shock on reporters' faces when it was apparent the attacks were intentional. You can also see footage of when White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card informed President George Bush of the happenings.

Accommodation Recommendations

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New York City is obviously large, so you should consider your destination when deciding where to stay. If your main priority is the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Holiday Inn Wall Street is just a 6-minute walk away. But if you'd prefer somewhere near Times Square, check out the Hilton Garden Inn.

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The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a great way for people to pay respect and learn more about the attacks. If you've never visited the area before, I recommend reading our tips for visiting New York City.