9/11 Memorial Museum

The memorial portion of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center was dedicated on September 11, 2011—the 10th anniversary of the attacks—with a ceremony for the families of victims, and opened to the public the following day. Admission to the memorial is free and visitor passes are not required. Eight acres in all, the Memorial Plaza features more than 400 trees and provides a sanctuary for quiet contemplation. Waterfalls flow into two large reflecting pools, in the towers' footprints, and the names of the men, women and children who lost their lives are inscribed in bronze parapets that surround the pools. The museum, located beneath the Plaza, houses exhibitions with artifacts, pictures, videos and accounts from people from around the United States and the world, amounting to a jointly told history of September 11, 2001. Note that there is a charge for admission to the museum; tickets can be purchased here. Also nearby, the 9/11 Tribute Center offers photos, walking tours and a collection of objects that bring visitors together in remembrance of 9/11 and its aftermath.