is the 911 museum tour worth it

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9 Things To Know Before Visiting The 9/11 Memorial & Museum

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New York has long been among the most desirable cities to visit in the world. Travelers flock to the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Broadway, and the Empire State Building. But in recent years, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum has joined the ranks of New York City’s most popular sights.

The 9/11 Memorial was dedicated and opened to the public in 2011, on the 10th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The memorial’s focal points are two pools, each nearly an acre in size, that sit in the footprints of the former North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. The pools contain the largest man-made waterfalls in North America, each descending 30 feet into a square basin. There is no charge for visiting the memorial, and it is open every day.

The adjacent museum, mostly located underground, opened in 2014 and houses more than 70,000 artifacts in 110,000 square feet of space. There is a fee to visit the museum, and it’s recommended that tickets be purchased online in advance. Visit the website for opening days and times.

The memorial and museum honor those who lost their lives in both the 9/11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Combined, these tragic events were responsible for the deaths of 2,983 people.

Vacations are often intended as an escape from the realities of daily life, a time to indulge in fun and frivolity. So whether or not to visit a memorial and museum documenting a terrible tragedy can be a difficult choice. It helps to be informed about what to expect and how best to approach this experience.

Here are nine things to know before visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

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1. Consider How You’ll Get There

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is located in lower Manhattan. Parking in this area is very limited, so it’s best to use public transportation or ride sharing, depending on your time, budget, and starting location.

With its location next to the World Trade Center Oculus Transportation Hub, getting to the memorial and museum can be accomplished by subway, bus, or the PATH train. However, the public transportation system in New York City can be frustrating. Schedules are subject to change due to repairs, and tickets are not available at every station. Ask your hotel concierge or Airbnb host for help getting to this part of the city. It will also help to download the MYmta app prior to your trip.

If you’re traveling at an off-peak time, using a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft is also a good option. But don’t do this during morning or evening commuting hours, since you’ll be stuck in traffic.

2. Arrive Early Or Late

Each year, the 9/11 Memorial attracts more than six million visitors, while the museum hosts more than three million. Needless to say, these places can be very crowded, especially during the peak summer season. To enjoy them with smaller crowds, arrive early in the day or later in the day.

The memorial is located outside in a park setting and is an especially peaceful place early in the morning. If you don’t plan to visit the museum, try getting to the memorial early and enjoy this unusually quiet part of the city.

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3. Be Prepared For An Emotional Experience

Everything about the memorial and museum is serious and subdued. From the cold, gray metal framing the pools and memorializing the names of the victims to the dark and austere concrete walls of the museum, this is an emotional experience . Exhibits in the museum include vehicles destroyed by the falling buildings, video footage of the attacks, and photos of the dead.

Many people plan a visit to the memorial and museum as an act of respect. But seeing the awful fallout of a terrorist attack can be hard for some. Those concerned about their emotional reaction should consider a visit to the memorial. While still sober, the memorial pools and surrounding park space are peaceful, akin to a loved one’s grave.

Another option for those concerned about their emotional reaction is to experience the museum virtually. A 60-minute tour through the museum’s key spaces will provide a deeper understanding of 9/11, the lead-up to the attacks, and their continuing global significance.

4. Download The Audio Guide

The vast size of the memorial and museum can make the experience overwhelming. Fortunately, there are audio guides available to help visitors navigate. You can either rent audio equipment or download the guides on your phone. Three tours are available: Witnessing History , Discovering History (for children 8 to 11 years old), and Building History .

A separate audio guide is available for the memorial and can be purchased through the Apple or Google app stores. This 40-minute tour uses GPS technology to guide visitors around both the North and South pools, to the Survivor Tree, and through the Memorial Glade.

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5. Start Inside At The Museum

If you’re planning to visit both the museum and the memorial, consider getting to the museum early to avoid crowds and saving the memorial for later. This is also a nice way to give context to the memorial. While most people are generally familiar with the events of 9/11, many have forgotten the details. As they explore the museum’s exhibits, visitors are taken through the timeline of events and shown the subsequent destruction.

While rotating exhibits are always offered, the core exhibits are an important part of a visit. The historical exhibition presents the story of 9/11 using artifacts, images, first-person testimonies, and archival audio and video recordings. The memorial exhibition honors the individuals killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993. Finally, Foundation Hall is the location of the slurry wall, a surviving retaining wall of the original World Trade Center that withstood the devastation of 9/11, as well as the Last Column, which stands 36 feet high and was the final steel beam removed from Ground Zero to mark the end of the nine-month recovery effort.

6. You Don’t Need To See Everything

Viewing the photos of thousands of victims along with the remains of vehicles, buildings, and personal effects can be difficult. While some people will spend 2 to 3 hours to take in everything the museum offers, others may prefer to move through quickly. Come prepared for each member of your party to experience this museum in their own way.

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7. End Your Visit Outdoors At The Memorial

After time indoors, it’s nice to retreat to the park setting of the memorial. Most people are immediately drawn to the North and South pools that mark the former location of the World Trade Center buildings. Inscribed around the edges of the pools are the names of all the victims.

Next, head to the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree that was discovered at Ground Zero during the clean-up. It was removed and rehabilitated, and later returned in 2010. It stands as a symbol of resilience.

Finally, walk through Memorial Glade, a tribute to all those who are suffering or died from 9/11-related illnesses. The path through the glade is flanked by six stone monoliths that were constructed in Vermont.

8. Think Twice About Bringing Little Ones

Young children are not likely to understand the 9/11 Museum and could be very upset by its exhibits. The dim, underground setting may also be alarming for young children. However, older kids may be open to visiting. The audio tour offered for kids 8 to 11 years old is a nice way to make this experience age appropriate.

The 9/11 Museum offers advice on how to talk to kids about terrorism. Grandparents may want to review this prior to a visit with children.

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9. Don’t Miss The Oculus

Across the street from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the World Trade Center Oculus Transportation Hub and Westfield Mall. This shopping center and hub is one of the most unique buildings in New York City. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the spiny white oculus was intended to resemble a dove taking flight from a child’s hand. Its peace-filled symbolism is a lovely contrast to the destruction that took place in 2001.

Inside the mall are large chain stores, small boutiques, and a variety of restaurants. After appreciating the Oculus inside and out, grab a bite to eat. If you’re visiting during New York’s hot and humid summer, the air-conditioned mall provides a cool break. For an expansive view of the memorial and its grounds, head to La Pizza & La Pasta , located inside Eataly, a large Italian marketplace.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum can be a part of any visit to New York City . Depending on the age and life experiences of the members of your party, the visit can last half a day and include everything offered, or simply be a short walk around the memorial. September 11, 2001, was a tragic day in American history, and the families of the victims hope we will never forget their sacrifice.

Wendy and Jason Lee are two passionate travelers based in Irvine, California. They set out to inspire couples 50+ to travel more by launching the blog, Empty Nesters Hit The Road . Often they travel internationally, but their own backyard, Southern California, also gives them ample opportunity for exploration.

How Best to Tour the 9/11 Memorial Museum

Here's how to see the museum no matter how much time you have.

— -- Today marks the 13th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and it's the first 9/11 that New York's September 11 Memorial Museum has been opened . It has quickly become one of the city's top tourist attractions, although it's not without its controversy .

But if a visit to the museum is in a visitor's plans, what's the best way to see it? How much time does a person need to see it in its entirety? The collection includes 23,000 images, over 500 hours of video and 10,300 artifacts in a gallery that is over 110,000 square feet. NewYork.com is one of only two companies authorized to sell tickets to the museum, and has shared the following itineraries for visitors no matter how much time they have.

The September 11 Museum in 30 Minutes, One Hour and Two Hours

If you only have 30 minutes to spend in the museum, you’ll have to arrive with a direct plan and be prepared to move quickly. Upon entering, skip the 15-minute introductory video shown in the theater on the ground floor. Instead, go directly to the third floor, to the September 11, 2001 exhibit. (Along the way, you’ll still get to experience the space, which is striking and incorporates pieces of the Twin Tower foundation in the design.) The September 11 exhibit is marked by a distinct glass entryway and revolving doors. As one museum docent put it, “It’s the heart of the museum.” This winding exhibit personifies the day of 9/11, and the historical context around it, with news clips from across the globe, timelines of events and audio of distress calls. There’s a display on the architecture and history of the Twin Towers before 9/11, as well as a film chronicling the rise of al Qaeda . The exhibit also covers New York after the attacks, from the relief centers to the political response. The infamous steel cross, which stood at the Twin Towers site after the attacks, rises over the hall. On exit, you’ll be in Foundation Hall, where a wall of the Twin Towers foundation and a 36-foot-tall steel column covered in memorial inscriptions and mementos are on view.

With an hour to spend at the museum, you should still skip the introductory video, and descend directly one floor below to the museum entrance. With an hour, you’ll have enough time to move through most of the museum. The space has a natural flow to it, so it’s worth taking the time to leisurely stroll through it. Do not miss the North and South Tower galleries, which offer a comprehensive look of the day, how it played out in each tower and the aftermath. The Memorial Exhibition is also an important stop, where photographs of all 2,977 people who lost their lives that day hang on the wall. An interactive feature allows you to search each photo and learn more about the victim. There’s also a room where you can listen to friends and family of the victims talk about their loved ones. Finally, be sure to watch Rebirth at Ground Zero, an immersive film that chronicles the rise of the new World Trade Center. It’s an uplifting experience in the midst of many emotional exhibits.

Note that you probably will not have time to check out the September 11, 2001 exhibit, which is separated from the rest of the museum. (If you do, you’ll have to move through it very quickly because it is large.) It isn’t a must-see exhibit if you are able to visit the rest of the museum.

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November 22, 2021 By Lyndsay

Tips for Visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum from an NYC Tour Guide

• 1 How to Get to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
• 2.1 The Reflecting Pools
• 2.2 The Memorial Glade
• 2.3 The Survivor Tree
• 2.4 9/11 Museum
• 2.5 The Oculus
• 2.6 One World Trade Center
• 2.7 St. Paul’s Chapel
• 2.8 FDNY Ten House
• 2.9 Liberty Park
• 3.1 Take a walking tour to learn more about the symbolism
• 3.2 The Memorial is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day
• 3.3 The 9/11 Museum has free NYC museum hours 
• 3.4 Be prepared to spend a few hours inside and outside
• 3.5 Visit the kiosks outside the 9/11 Museum to search the directory
• 3.6 What’s the difference between Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial?

This post may contain affiliate links! I will receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase something recommended here.

The 9/11 Memorial is the most meaningful landmark in New York City that I had the pleasure of giving tours about. 

My father and my uncle were in Manhattan on September 11, 2001.

Not only were they in Manhattan for business meetings at a Wall Street office, but they also arrived around the same time the North Tower was first hit–only a few blocks away.

Two important people in my life made it home that day, but almost 3,000 others did not. 

I had the distinct honor of being a 9/11 Memorial tour guide for over three years due to my personal connection, and I have several tips for visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

It’s one of my absolute favorite places in New York City . 

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How to Get to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

I have a complete guide on using the subway in New York City if you need a refresher. Using public transportation is really easy! 

Found within the World Trade Center complex, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is located downtown, below the grid that outlines most of Manhattan’s streets. 

If you want to learn how New York City’s street layout works , take a look at my guide.

The Oculus was built as a transportation hub that connects to the Fulton Street Station, another Financial District station complex, and provides direct access to the World Trade Center. 

The 1/E/R/W subway lines are located inside the Oculus, while Fulton Street Station across the street connects the 2/3/4/5/A/C/J/Z lines.

That means you have 10 separate transit routes that will get you within two blocks of the World Trade Center!

What are the different areas of the World Trade Center today?

The 9/11 Memorial and National September 11 Memorial & Museum commemorate the lives lost during the terror attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

It honors those who perished on American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77, United Airlines Flight 93, and first responders.

The Memorial features two reflecting pools dedicated to the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks and the first responders who risked their own lives to save others.

There are several areas on the World Trade Center campus and adjacent to it, each dedicated to a different group affected on 9/11.

The Reflecting Pools

Designed by Israeli artist Michael Arad and titled “Reflecting Absence,” the spaces where the Twin Towers originally stood are now Reflecting Pools–one in each of the Twin Tower’s original locations.

There are black panels around the reflecting pools, paying tribute to all the people who died in that tower on 9/11. 

In addition, the North Tower Reflecting Pool incorporates the names of the individuals who passed away from the 1993 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

The South Tower Reflecting Pool includes all first responders and those on American Airlines Flight 77 that hit the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 

The Memorial Glade

The Memorial Glade honors the lives lost in the years since 9/11. The space is constantly evolving since people are still passing from 9/11-related illnesses.

The six stone slabs stand near where the primary ramp to excavate Ground Zero once stood, which is where many of these individuals were exposed to the hazards and toxins that caused their deaths.

The Survivor Tree

The Survivor Tree is a Callery pear tree that was planted in the 1970s and discovered among the ruins a month after the attack.

It had one remaining branch, despite essentially being scorched, but was rehabilitated back to health. It now serves as a symbol of strength on the Memorial.

9/11 Museum

Inside the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, you’ll find a number of historical exhibition rooms, personal effects, archival audio, historical records, and first-hand personal accounts from people who experienced the day’s tragic events.

The Survivor Staircase, a fire engine that was partially crushed under the towers, and Steel Beam Tridents from the original World Trade Center can all be seen on a museum visit. 

Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Oculus is a massive transportation hub.

Its public entry is located on the World Trade Center grounds, directly across from the 9/11 Memorial. It contains various magnificent references to the tragic events of that day–parts of the slurry wall that remained sturdy during the attack may be seen.

Every year on the anniversary, the skylight opens, and you can even shop your way through the Westfields mall inside the Oculus–one of my favorite free NYC activities and things to do in NYC on a rainy day .

One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center is the most prominent of the new skyscrapers created on the World Trade Center grounds.

It is now the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and you can catch an incredible view from its observation deck, One World Observatory–my favorite observatory in New York City .

In addition to Tower One, five other buildings are rebuilt or in construction on the World Trade Center, bringing the final total to six.

St. Paul’s Chapel

Built in 1766, St. Paul’s Chapel is the oldest building in continuous use in New York City.

In its history, it survived the Revolutionary War, two massive fires, and 9/11. After September 11, it earned the nickname “The Little Chapel That Stood.”

Fun Fact : After being inaugurated as the first President of the United States on Thursday, April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall on Wall Street, George Washington, and the founding fathers came to St. Paul’s Chapel to worship.

FDNY Ten House

With its firehouse location just across the street from the World Trade Center, these men were the first of the first responders on 9/11, and all six firefighters lost their lives.

Although the firehouse was reduced to ruins, it has since been restored to be fully operational.

Now, the side of the firehouse has a beautiful bronze panel sculpture that memorializes the 343 firefighters that lost their lives on 9/11.

Liberty Park

Liberty Park is a raised park overlooking the Memorial grounds. On top of the park, you can see The Sphere, the centerpiece between the Twin Towers, recovered by rescue workers from under the debris, and America’s Response Monument.

Adjacent to Liberty Park, you’ll see St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. This was the only religious house destroyed on 9/11 and was allowed to rebuild on this site. 

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Tips for Visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

There’s a reason I always thanked my guests first and foremost for taking a walking tour of the 9/11 Memorial .

From the Reflecting Pools to the spire on the top of One World Trade Center, almost every piece of the design goes back to making this a safe, peaceful place while still functioning as the financial capital of New York City.

Take a walking tour to learn more about the symbolism

If you have time in your itinerary, please sign up to take a 9/11 Memorial tour when you come to New York City.

While you can wander around on your own, there’s nothing like exploring the space with a licensed tour guide who can answer your questions and give you incredible insight into the space that you wouldn’t be able to learn on your own at the site. 

If you can’t schedule a walking tour into your schedule, listen to their audio guide app for your own self-guided tour. They have two different audio tours and one geared specifically for children.

Search for the 9/11 Museum Audio Guide in both the App Store and Google Play.

The Memorial is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day

You can confirm the 9/11 Memorial and Museum hours on their website to confirm. However, even if the Memorial is closed, your trip downtown wasn’t in vain.

It’s still stunning to see at night, with lanterns lighting the space and the Memorial pools illuminated.

When it’s open, the 9/11 Memorial is always free to walk around. 

The 9/11 Museum has free NYC museum hours  

One of my favorite tips for visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is you have flexibility in your schedule, the 9/11 Museum has free museum hours every Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets for free Mondays are available for booking online starting at 7 a.m. on a first-come-first-serve basis.

However, if you can’t make it there for a Monday afternoon, you can purchase timed-entry tickets to the museum with entry times available all day.

While you can buy Museum tickets when you get there, buy your tickets in advance online to avoid the long lines.

Pro Tip:  Get ready for airport-like security checks to enter the museum.

Be prepared to spend a few hours inside and outside

If you take a walking tour, they usually last about 90 minutes, where you have the opportunity to explore the 9/11 Memorial grounds as well as the surrounding neighborhood.

Buildings like FDNY Ten House and St. Paul’s Chapel are all in the surrounding area and have their own 9/11 history. 

Then, plan to spend at least 2 hours exploring the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

When I visit, I make a point to read every display and interact with every element. And it’s an emotional experience–I cry in every room. 

Visit the kiosks outside the 9/11 Museum to search the directory

If you want to find someone’s name on the Memorial, there are kiosks on the side of the 9/11 Museum facing the South Tower’s Reflecting Pool.

There, you can search and be directed to the exact panel on which Reflecting Pool you can find their name. 

What’s the difference between Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial?

Ground Zero is another name for the 9/11 Memorial grounds in New York City. It’s the site of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States.

What was once a seven-building complex with 12 million square feet of office space, an underground shopping mall, and the iconic Twin Towers was reduced to rubble.  

The 9/11 Museum and Memorial is a phenomenal place where future generations will have the privilege of coming to pause, reflect, and pay their respects to the lives lost on September 11 in peace.

I hope these tips for visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum magnify your experience on this sacred ground.

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How To Visit Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorial Museum in 2024: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More

Carissa Chesanek Last Updated: October 26, 2023

Ground Zero and The National September 11 Memorial Museum are significant sites in New York City’s history. The historic landmarks honor those who died in the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. But there’s a lot to see and it can be confusing to decide how to plan your trip to these must-see memorials. Here’s how to visit Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorial Museum, with information on tickets, hours, tours, and more

Pro Tip:  Bookmark this article as a helpful guide for your visit to Ground Zero, the 9/11 Memorial Museum. You can also use our helpful guide for planning your trip to New York City to see the best sites and eat tasty food.

Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorials: What We’ll Cover

Ground Zero is a large area that’s known as the area where the World Trade Center towers collapsed and many months of cleanup occurred. Here you’ll find the National September 11 Memorial Museum, the 9/11 Memorial Pools, the FDNY Memorial Wall, and the One World Trade Center where you can explore their observation deck at the top of the building. Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

• One World Trade Center hours and tickets
• 9/11 Memorial hours and tickets
• 9/11 Memorial Museum hours and tickets
• What to see and do
• Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorial tours
• Important facts and history

One World Trade Center: Hours, Tickets, and Directions

One World Trade Center remembers those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is not only the tallest building in the World Trade Center Complex but also in the nation. It’s an impressive sight to view from the outside at 1,776 feet high. However, the inside is also something to see. Here, you’ll find the Oculus subway, Westfield Shops, and restaurants.

While here, check out One World Observatory. It sits at the top of One World Trade Center boasting city views at 102 stories high. And you can try an interactive tour and food from the restaurant and bar.

Admission fee to One World Trade Center: There is no fee to enter the World Trade Center Westfield Shops or Oculus.

Hours: Westfield Shops at the Oculus are open daily, Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm. Sunday hours are from 11 am to 6 pm.

Admission fee to the One World Observatory: General admission starts at $44 per person.

Hours: The Observatory is currently open Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 9 pm.

Directions: Get here by subway taking the 1 to WTC Cortlandt, the E to World Trade Center, or the R W to Cortlandt. One World Trade Center will be less than a 5-minute walk from the subway station.

Address: 50 Church Street, New York

9/11 Memorial: Hours, Tickets, and Directions

The 9/11 Memorial opened ten years after the September 11th terror attacks as a place for healing. You’ll find the Memorial Pools, Memorial Glade, and Survivor Tree here to visit quietly and reflect on their meaning for this special area.

Admission fee: There is no fee to visit the 9/11 Memorial.

Hours: The 9/11 Memorial is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm.

Directions: Get here by subway taking the 1 to WTC Cortlandt or the E to World Trade Center. The 9/11 Memorial will be less than a 5-minute walk from the subway station.

Address: 180 Greenwich Street, New York

Pro tip: If you are visiting on September 11th, you may be able to see the Tribute in Light ceremony. This art installation projects two beams of light high in the sky resembling the Twin Towers. And you don’t necessarily have to be at the memorial to see it. The installation can be viewed within a 60-mile radius in the Lower Manhattan area.

National September 11 Memorial Museum: Hours, Tickets, and Directions

The 9/11 Memorial Museum reflects on the terror attacks on September 11th and the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. The 110,000 square feet space hosts artifacts and images that tell personal stories of victims, rescue workers, and others impacted.

Admission Fee for the 9/11 Memorial Museum:

• Adults: $29 (A museum tour with admission is $49 per adult)
• Young adults (13-17): $23
• Youths (7-12 years old): $17
• Child (6 and Under): Free
• Seniors 65 and older and college students: $23
• Veterans: $18

Hours: The 9/11 Memorial Museum is open Thursday-Monday from 10 am – 5 pm.

Directions: Get here by subway taking the 1 to WTC Cortlandt or the E to World Trade Center. The 9/11 Memorial Museum will be less than a 5-minute walk from the subway station.

Pro Tip: The 9/11 Memorial Museum offers free admission on Mondays from 3:30 pm to 5 pm. If you’re looking to get free tickets you’ll need to plan ahead and register online here .

Not ready to book a tour? Check out how to spend 3 days in New York .

What To See and Do

There’s a lot to explore and visit around the 9/11 Memorials, and you don’t want to miss anything. Here are the important things to see at each location.

One World Trade Center

• Take a ride on the SkyPod elevator where you’ll experience the New York City skyline through video and illusion.
• One World Explorer interactive iPad guide that lets you learn the history of New York City’s most iconic buildings with a tap of a finger.

9/11 Memorial

• The two Memorial Pools are at the site of the former North and South Towers. Both have two of the largest man-made waterfalls that descend 50 feet. The name of the victims from both 1993 and 2001 (including Flight 93 and the Pentagon) are etched in the bronze wall found alongside the pools.
• The Memorial Glade represents rescue workers and others who were exposed to toxins after the attack and during the long months of cleanup.
• There is also the Callery pear tree that survived the attacks. It was later replanted at the Memorial and named the Survivor Tree.
• The bronze FDNY Memorial Wall, which honors the firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11. It is not in the Memorial but just a short two-minute walk away.

9/11 Memorial Museum

• The FDNY Ladder 3 firetruck   that was recovered from the World Trade Center site.
• The memorial exhibition featuring a floor-to-ceiling photo showcase of the victims.
• Artifacts from victims that help shed light on their lives before the bombings.

Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorial Tours

All the guided in-person tours are led by New Yorkers with a connection to 9/11. There are several tours to choose from , including the 90-minute All Access Ground Zero Tour with museum and One World Observatory entry for $109 per adult. Other options include only a guided tour of Ground Zero ($39 per adult), or a tour and entrance to either the museum or One World Observatory ($79 per adult).

There is also the official 9/11 Memorial Audio Guide app ($1.99) with a 40-minute tour discussing the attacks and Memorial design. The audio guide is narrated by a New Yorker who lost a family member on 9/11.

Facts About Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorials

Though many tourists might be familiar with the events of September 11th, some may not know these important facts about Ground Zero and the 9/11 museum, thanks to the official 9/11 Memorial website and History.com.

• Before the Twin Towers fell they were both over 1,300 feet in height. The North Tower was 1,368 feet high while the South Tower reached 1,362 feet.
• The first plane hit the first tower at 8:45 am at approximately the 80th floor, and the second plane hit the South Tower at 9:03 am at approximately the 60th floor.
• The buildings took roughly ten seconds to collapse to the ground bringing with them about 300,000 tons of steel.
• Almost 3,000 people died in the 9/11 attacks (2,983 total), and 343 of those were firefighters who are also honored at the FDNY Memorial Wall.
• To create the 9/11 Memorial there was an international competition that took place In 2003. The following year, architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker were announced the winners with their design titled Reflecting Absence which featured the two pools and white oak trees we see today.
• The Memorial Pools are about the size of one acre each and took ten years to build. The National September 11 Museum opened its doors three years later and continues to be one of the most popular museums to visit in NYC.

Where to Stay in NYC

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9/11 Museum - do I need the tour? - New York City Forum

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9/11 Museum - do I need the tour?

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I have visited a few times and went about it on my own.

I would not want a tour for the 9/11 Museum. I like to go at my own pace.

However, if you are not 100% familiar with the events of the day and want additional info, it is perfectly fine to take a tour.

I think each approach has something going for it. The tour is shorter than the amount of time most of us have spent visiting the museum, but you can revisit parts of the museum on your own I'm sure. When going through on your own, spending 3+ hours is not unusual.

I've not taken the tour, so I can't really compare the experience. I'm sure you will learn some things that you might otherwise miss, but it's a very profound and personal experience and being part of a group where it's always "time to move on" could be a downside.

I agree 100% with ter.

I visited the Museum a few years after it opened and found that going at my pace worked for me.

We worked our own way round the basement museum which lasted between 2.5 to 3 hours and it was that quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yes we did our own walk-a-bout as well. I tended to go faster than my husband. He stayed and read everything. I got out before him so I just waited. I gave him all the time he needed. They have inside benches and seating that you can wait on. It’s all good. We took a couple of hours.

I like going at my own pace. The museum has an audio tour which youndowload , no charge to your own device. I believe today it is an app.

No need for a tour unless you have very little knowledge of history of what happened.

You've all been so helpful. Thank you!

We have been to the Museum on two occasions, both visits at our pace.

However, on our most recent visit we did a walking tour of the 9/11 site through the 9/11 Tribute Centre http://www.911memorial.org/tours - tours are conducted of the site by volunteers who are either survivors of or relatives of people that perished on that horrible day.

The $ is very, very reasonable and it is a very emotional and insightful experience, adds a further dimension to the Museum experience. Highly recommended !!

Hi..isnt there a audio tour you can rent at the Museum?

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9/11 Memorial and Museum Insider Tour

Firsthand stories of tragedy and heroism at ground zero.

• When 10:30 AM and 1 PM daily and 3 PM Thursday through Saturday
• Duration 3.5 hours (90 minutes guided)
• Meeting Point Outside St. Paul’s Chapel on Broadway

$79 per adult

Local experts, worry-free booking.

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• Hear firsthand accounts from your guide, a New Yorker with a personal connection to 9/11.
• Walk through Ground Zero and learn about its history and rebirth.
• See the largest man-made waterfalls in North America at the 9/11 Memorial.
• Visit the Survivor Tree, a symbol of resilience.
• Skip the line to enter the 9/11 Museum, which details the events of the day through artifacts and narratives.
• Enjoy panoramic views of the city from the One World Observatory with an optional Freedom Tower upgrade.

What you'll do

Visiting Ground Zero is emotional but also inspiring as you hear about the stories of heroism on the ground and the spirit of rebirth in the aftermath of 9/11.

This walking tour, led by a New Yorker with a personal connection to the events of September 11th, takes you through the history and landmarks of Ground Zero. We begin at St. Paul’s Chapel, a beautiful church that’s one of the oldest churches in NYC, built in 1766. You’ll learn how the church served the community in the wake of 9/11 and how it miraculously survived the debris from the crashes a mere block away.

From there, you’ll walk with your guide to the 9/11 Memorial, where you’ll learn about the symbolic places in the memorial plaza, including the Survivor Tree and Reflecting Absence, the largest man-made waterfalls on the continent.

Afterward, your guide will prepare you for your visit to the 9/11 Museum. Your visit is self-guided, and we provide a skip-the-line ticket. The museum includes artifacts and first-person stories relating to September 11th. We recommend spending a couple hours in the museum, though you’re welcome to stay for as long as it’s open.

If you choose the upgrade, you can visit the One World Trade Center as well. The new World Trade Center is a tribute that honors the lives lost in the attacks and celebrates New York City’s resilience. Your self-guided visit begins in the lobby with “Voices,” a film dedicated to the men and women of the World Trade Towers and new One World Trade Center. Afterward, take the Sky Pod elevator to the top of Freedom Tower. There, you can experience both the See Forever Theater and the 360-degree, 1,250-foot observation deck of the One World Observatory, which showcases breathtaking views of Manhattan.

St. Paul’s Chapel

A historic church one block from the 9/11 attacks that miraculously survived the falling debris

9/11 Memorial

Where you can pay your respects to those who lost their lives on 9/11 at the World Trade Center

9/11 Museum

A self-guided tour through collections of media, memorabilia, and more

The grand entrance to the One World Trade Center as seen from Ground Zero

Optional upgrade: One World Observatory

The 360-degree observation deck at the One World Trade Center AKA Freedom Tower

Make this tour private

Book this tour for just your group, starting from $350.

Plan your trip

Admission to the One World Observatory at the One World Trade Center is an optional upgrade offering views of Manhattan from 1,250 feet up.

Accessibility

This tour is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

Tour ending point

The tour ends at the 911 Memorial.

Refund policy

We offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours before the start time.

Want to see the Museum and One World Observatory in one tour? We have options.

Meeting point

We meet outside St. Paul’s Chapel at 209 Broadway. The cross streets are Fulton and Vessey.

Is the museum visit guided?

Your visit to the 9/11 Museum is self-guided. Your guide will share helpful information about the museum to prepare you for your visit, and you’ll get a timed entry ticket to the museum. Depending on availability, your ticket may be for immediately after the tour conclusion or some time later. The museum reserves the discretion not to admit you if you are early or late, and you can’t exit and reenter the museum.

How much walking is there?

We cover less than a mile at a leisurely pace, and the walking route is fairly level.

What can I bring inside the museum?

There is a security checkpoint before entering the 9/11 Museum. All large bags will need to be checked at the coat check. You can bring your camera, but only photos without flash are allowed.

Is the tour good for kids?

Yes, the subject matter is covered sensitively.

If I miss the tour, can I still get my ticket for the museum or observatory?

What is the rescheduling policy.

We understand plans change. We offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours prior to your tour start time for this tour. We also offer rescheduling to another date the tour is running at no extra cost if you’re unable to make this tour. Please keep in mind there are no refunds available if you have already rescheduled your tour.

When should I get there?

Plan to show up 15 minutes early. The tour starts promptly, and you may not be able to catch up if you arrive late.

What if it rains?

Our tours run rain or shine, so please check the local forecast to plan. In rare cases when we have to cancel for extreme weather, we’ll offer you the chance to reschedule or give a full refund.

Are gratuities included?

Tips are always appreciated but never expected. They’re a great way to tell your guide they did an awesome job and show your appreciation.

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Early Access Tour - Excellent - The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum

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Early Access Tour - Excellent

We did the early access tour with our guide Malory on a Saturday morning before the museum opens to the general public. It was an excellent tour - both because our tour guide Malory was eloquent and because it was nice to see the exhibits without the crowds. Stayed for 2.5 hours after tour finished - incredible museum. Very well done.

I thought it would a dreary and sad. It's actually pretty beautiful. My family and I enjoyed walking around the fountains and the kids threw some pennies in and made wishes for the families affected. That part of the city is quite nice and in a good way, it was a cheerful thing to do.

Visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum was a very emotional experience. The reflecting pools are very respectful and a touching tribute to those involved. The mood around the pools is peaceful as people stand and remember those who lost their lives and the heroics of the emergency workers of the day. I really wanted to visit the museum however, on reflection, I should have stopped at the pools. The museum brings the memories of the day flooding back. The museum is underground. There is dark wood and you are standing with the foundations of the original buildings and it remains a resting place. I was only able to stay a short time as I found it quite overwhelming, as did my daughter. My husband and son found the museum very interesting. Everyone will have a different reaction. I wanted to go to pay my respects to the people who lost their lives that day, to the bravery of the emergency services and also to acknowledge the day the world changed forever. We will not forget you. Well done to the people who have created this space - it is an appropriate memorial for those we lost and also to those who will carry the scars forever.

The 9/11 Memorial is a deeply moving monument dedicated to all that lost their life that day. It's sobering, but beautiful. Both of the tower monuments are beautiful and awe inspiring. The perfect reflection. Remember to be respectful while here. No dogs are allowed.

A very nice museum that does a great job of honoring the victims who died in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Great interactive exhibits and the video tribute and film of the family members describing their loved ones that were killed was very touching. It can be hard to handle everything that you see, including personal belongings of victims that were collected from ground zero and are on display, but if you can take the emotional impact it is very much worth visiting.

So glad we booked a tour guide for the Museum. We would have missed so much walking through on our own. Loved having the headphones and our guide.

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Latest posts, how to work at an art museum, salvador dali museum san francisco, art museum real estate philadelphia, 9 11 museum early access tour, 911 museum tour worth it, what to see at the 9/11 memorial.

The World Trade Center is now a park of oak trees at the center of which are the twin fountains that make up the 9/11 Memorial, where water cascades down in a waterfall. In tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the names of those who lost their lives that day are engraved on the outer edges of the fountains.

The fountains and the names of the victims are illuminated at night, giving the place a special atmosphere.

Way N : Take A Guided Tour Of 9/11 Memorial And Museum

Guided tours are the best way to enjoy a place of historical and cultural significance such as the National September 11 Museum. Your tour guide will share important information about what you are seeing, and in the case of 9/11 Museum, most guides have a specific personal connection to the events.

Guided tours are obviously more expensive, but generally worth it.

The guided tours below all include 9/11 Museum tickets and a guided visit to the Memorial.

• Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour & Optional 9/11 Museum Entry if you select the option inclusive of the museum tickets, this tour costs $69. It lasts between 2 and 5 hours. Your guide will walk you through the most important landmarks of the memorial, and at the end you are handed a ticket to visit the museum.
• New York: 9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero & Optional Museum Entry a similar option to the one above, it costs $89.99 but the group is much smaller, allowing only up to 10 participants.
• 9/11 Memorial and Museum private tour this is the most expensive option, but the tour is probably the best you could hope for.

For a great selection of 9/11 Memorial and Museum tours, click here .

Revealed: The Hunt For Bin Laden

Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden takes visitors on the fascinating search of Osama Bin Laden, terrorist organization Al Qaedas leader.

The story begins with efforts to track bin Ladens whereabouts and ascertain his plans before 2001 and concludes with the U.S. Navy SEAL operation on his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The Hunt for Bin Laden is a critical and compelling account of how the U.S. intelligence community, military, and federal law enforcement agencies came together after 9/11 to bring one man to justice.

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How To Visit The 9/11 Museum

You will enter the 9/11 Museum through a pavilion located in the Memorial. You will descend into the subway facility where the first thing you will see is Virgil’s quote, “No day shall erase you from the memory of time” in the room known as Memorial Hall.

As you proceed through the space beneath the World Trade Center, you will pass into Foundation Hall, the Museum’s main hall, whose most prominent feature is the ‘Last Column’. This was the last piece of the building to be removed in the World Trade Center rubble removal effort, and is covered with inscriptions and signatures of those who participated in the recovery effort at Ground Zero.

Top Things To See At Or Near The 9/11 Memorial In Nyc

Carissa ChesanekLast Updated: April 21, 2022

The National September 11 Memorial Museum is a monumental landmark at the World Trade Center. But perhaps you want to know what else there is to see nearby before you visit the 9/11 museum and memorials. There are plenty of other activities and attractions around the memorial and Financial District, and weve included our favorites here. Explore our guide below for the top things to see at or near the 9/11 Memorial in New York City.

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How Much Time Do You Need

Although a quick trip can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes, some guests may want to set aside a little more time to experience the memorial.

There are also several additional monuments nearby that are directly related to the events of 9/11, so you may want to ensure that you have at least 1 hour to see everything.

This is the exact time it will take you to complete our audio walking tour of the memorial and surrounding area.

The 9/11 Museum is located right between the two monuments and you will require tickets for entry.

This location includes several exhibits covering the history before, during, and after the events of September 11th.

For more information, make sure to read our post about visiting the 9/11 Museum .

If you want to take things a step further, you should also consider visiting One World Trade Center.

Located right across the street from the 9/11 Memorial, this is one of the tallest buildings in the world and it has observation decks providing some of the best views in New York City.

Read our post about the Freedom Tower for more details.

Anyone who is considering a trip to the memorial, the museum, and the One World Observatory should set aside at least 5-6 hours for the entire trip.

Youll also want to purchase tickets in advance to make sure that you can get in when you want and avoid having to wait in line.

If youre planning on spending the day in this area, consider dropping into Brookfield Place to grab a bite to eat.

When You Have Already Bought The Tickets

When you buy 9/11 Museum tickets online , you get to pick your time slot.

On the day of your visit, all you have to do is reach the Museum 15 minutes before the time mentioned on your tickets.

Since you already have the tickets, you can skip the line at the ticketing counter .

Look for time-based entry lines where everyone with tickets gets to stand.

At the time mentioned on your ticket, you will be allowed to enter the Museum. Yes, no waiting!

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How To Get To 9/11 Museum And Memorial

The National September 11 Memorial Museum is located at 180 Greenwich Street, in the Financial District in Lower Manhattan.

There are 4 entrances to the building:

• Between Liberty Street and Greenwich Street
• Between Liberty Street and West Street
• Between West Street and Fulton Street
• Between Fulton Street and Greenwich Street

The easiest way to get there is by public transportation.

Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and A, C, J, Z will take you all the way to Lower Manhattan. You can also take trains E and R. The best stations to get off are Chambers Street Station or Fulton Street Station, Park Place, World Trade Center, Rector Street or Cortland Street Station.

You can get to the Financial District by bus from other places in Manhattan. You will likely need to take a bus that is southbound. The buses that stop nearby are the M55 the M20 and the M22 . If you are taking the M55 Northbound get off at Trinity Place and Rector Street.

Another convenient way of getting there is by hop-on hop-off bus. You can get your pass here .

FROM NEW JERSEY: If you are traveling from New Jersey, you can get to the World Trade Center Terminal by PATH Train.

Where To Eat In The 9/11 Memorial And Museum Area

Being in the middle of the Financial District, there aren’t too many restaurants in the 9/11 Memorial and Museum area, but there are a couple of worthwhile places:

• Delmonico’s – A relatively expensive steakhouse but has a pretty high rating on TripAdvisor.
• Leo’s Bagels – A place where you’ll find the typical New York Bagel that I recommend to everyone I know who travels to New York.
• If you are looking for something quick, in The Oculus you will find a lot of restaurants and fast food chains : Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Eataly, Shake Shack…

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The National September 11th Memorial Museum

Unlike the Memorial, you must purchase tickets to enter the Museum.

Through interactive technology, archives, narratives, and a collection of artifacts, the Museum recounts the events of 9/11.

To see a preview of what your visit will be like, here is a virtual tour of the museum.

Hours : Daily from 9 am to 8 pm. The last entry time is at 7 pm.

Tickets: Tickets are “timed-entry” meaning you must select a specific date and time when you make your purchase. Tickets can be purchased up to three months in advance.

You can purchase tickets by clicking here .

Several tour companies combine a walking tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero with tickets to the 9/11 Museum. Learn more .

TIP: Admission to the museum is included for free with the purchase of either the New York Pass, the Explorer Pass or the CityPass booklet. Read our post comparing the different tourist attractions passes in NYC .

Free Tuesdays

Free admission will be available for all visitors every Tuesday, from 5 pm to 8 pm .

A limited number of advance tickets for these free Tuesdays will be available online, starting two weeks in advance of each Tuesday.

A limited number of tickets are available every Tuesday on a first-come, first-served basis.

Get more detail on this cost-saving opportunity at our post – Free Admission 911 Museum .

Join us for our Tuesday World Trade Center and 911 Memorial Tour from 1 pm till 3 pm, after which you can pick up tickets for free entry.

Should You Bring The Kids

While children are welcome inside the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the museum exhibitions may not be appropriate for children under the age of 10. It may also be difficult to properly explain the events of 9/11 and their impact to young children. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum provides a guide for children , and staff is available to help answer questions. It’s recommended that you allow yourself at least three to four hours to fully embrace the memorial and the contents of the museum, as the experience is very emotional. Some find the museum to be overwhelming however, many have attested that its deep impact is part of what makes the museum and memorial so necessary. Finding the right tone when creating a museum around a day so tragic is difficult, but many feel that the museum appropriately creates an informative and touching experience that pays tribute to the victims and the emotions the nation felt on that day, the days following, and even now.

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/11 Museum: What Youll Find Here

Opened to the public in 2014, the September 11 Museum is located 70 feet above ground. Here youll find artifacts from the tragic events of 9/11, including recordings of 911 calls and survivors stories, objects that were found in the ruins, pieces from the buildings and more.

The museum features 2 core exhibitions and other rotating, time-limited exhibitions, plus a couple of other activities. Lets see them in detail.

Image by kmiragaya via DepositPhotos

The Historical Exhibition: September 11, 2001 tells the story of 9/11. Its divided in three parts: Events of the Day, where youll learn about the Twin Towers and the attacks to the pentagon and Flight 93, Before 9/11 that talks about the events that led to the attacks, and After 9/11.

The Memorial Exhibition: In Memoriam s goal is to honor all the people who lost their lives. Visitors can learn about each victims life by using some touchscreen tables, and youll also find some personal objects that described the victims lives. This part of the museum really helps giving the victims a face, and it makes it more personal.

The temporary exhibitions change every few months. Currently at the time of writing this post, the two exhibitions you can see are Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden , an exhibition about the intelligence work that led to finding Osama Bin Laden, and K-9 Courage , that tells the story of the hundreds of dogs that helped after the attacks.

A Bit Of History: September 11 2011

I can hardly forget that Tuesday in September when, having returned home from school with my brother, we turned on the television as usual to play the video game console, but never got around to changing the channel: we were engrossed in watching the images of the Twin Towers collapsing in a cloud of black smoke, which the news repeated over and over again.

We had not long returned to Madrid after living in New York for nearly seven years, so those images came from the place we still considered home.

Chances are, if you are reading this, you also have a story to tell about 9/11. If you weren’t in New York, you were most likely caught at home, watching the news in complete shock like me. If you lived in New York, your story will be very different, and it is precisely this story that is told at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York.

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A Few Tips For Visiting The 9/11 Memorial And Museum

Security : Security is tight at the 9/11 Museum. Expect airport-like security checks at the entrance, which might mean longer queues during high season. Allow some extra time to go through security.

before your visit. This free app will guide you through the space, and also features extra content and stories told by first responders and residents.

Skip the Lines If you dont buy an online ticket prior to your visit, youll have to queue to buy the ticket, queue to enter the museum, and queue for security. Depending on when you visit, queues can get very long .

I strongly suggest buying your tickets online to avoid wasting time when I did, I saved at least 20 minutes by avoiding the queue at the ticket counter. You can buy your skip the line tickets here .

Accessibility : The 9/11 Museum is fully accessible for wheelchair users.

Fdny Memorial Wall : If you still have time, take a 10 minutes to check out the FDNY Memorial Wall that is dedicated to the 343 firefighters and volunteer firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11. You can find this wall at the FDNY Engine 10 Ladder 10 station, located across the street from the World Trade Center.

Can You Walk Around Ground Zero

How long is the tour? Our guided tour of Ground Zero is 90 minutes . If you choose an experience with entry to the 9/11 Museum or the One World Observatory or both youll want to allow additional time for those attractions.

Can you bring bags into 911 Museum? Security screening is mandatory for all visitors that wish to enter the Memorial Museum, and will include screening of all bags, equipment, and belongings. Permissible baggage, handbags, backpacks, shopping bags, equipment, and belongings for visitors is limited to 8 x 17 x 19 per item .

How much does it cost to see the 9/11 memorial? The 9/11 Memorial is free and open to the public seven days a week, 10 a.m.5 p.m. Museum tickets can be purchased up to six months in advance and include entry to all available exhibitions.

Can you tour the Twin Towers? If you plan on visiting the One World Trade Centers 9/11 Memorial & Museum you can visit between 9am-8pm daily . To visit the One World Observatory, it is open 9am-9pm 7 days a week with last admission 8.15pm .

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What Will You See

Visiting the 911 Memorial Museum is both sobering and uplifting. Youll hear stories of tragedy and heroism, leaving you both sad and hopeful. Some of the sites include:

• Historical exhibits that talk about the days before and after 911. Its not advisable for kids under 10 years, because of the potential emotional impact.
• In Memoriam, a tribute to the fallen.
• Daily feature films in Museum Pavilion L2, the museums auditorium.
• The Survivor Tree, a Callery Pear which lived through the disaster, was rehabilitated, and replanted at Ground Zero. Seedlings from this tree are annually donated to three communities that have survived tragedies of their own.
• Twin Reflecting Pools drop into the largest man-made waterfall in the US. The pools lie in what would have been the shadow of the Twin Towers, and measure nearly an acre each. At the edge of the pools, there are bronze engravings naming everyone we lost. The pools are 10m metres deep .
• The Sphere, which was originally positioned between the Twin Towers, survived the attack and now has an eternal flame as a tribute.
• The Observatory includes a pre-show, 3 floors to explore , a pod elevator ride, and See Forever Theatre.

Can You Go In The World Trade Center

If you plan on visiting the One World Trade Centers 9/11 Memorial & Museum you can visit between 9am-8pm daily . To visit the One World Observatory, it is open 9am-9pm 7 days a week with last admission 8.15pm .

What happened to Gary Box?

Gary was a loving son, brother, uncle, cousin and father. He was an FDNY Firefighter with Squad One in Brooklyn NY. Garys life was ended suddenly and violently on September 11th, 2001 at the World Trade Center.

How many workers died building twin towers?

In all, 60 workers were killed in construction accidents while the World Trade Center was being built. The topping out ceremony of the North Tower took place on December 23, 1970, while the South Tower s ceremony occurred on July 19, 1971.

How long is ground zero tour? Our guided tour is 90 minutes . You can also add on a visit to the 9/11 Museum, which takes about two hours, and the One World Observatory at Freedom Tower, which takes about an hour.

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Visit Us on Tuesdays This Summer

We're thrilled to share that the Museum will be open on Tuesday, May 28 and every Tuesday in June and July. Tickets for these special dates are now available. 

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Opening Times

The Memorial opens at 8 a.m.

The Museum opens at 9 a.m.

Memorial + Museum Tour Returns

Our Memorial + Museum tour, the only tour we offer that includes both the Memorial and the Museum, is back for Spring and Summer 2024! This indoor/outdoor tour runs approximately 90 minutes, and all participants receive expedited Museum entry. 

The Museum is open with ongoing operational changes to ensure a safe Museum experience . Plan your visit today .

By providing a host of tailored  educational programs and resources for students, teachers, families, and the general public, the Museum strives to foster a deeper understanding of 9/11 and its ongoing legacy. 

We actively engage with 9/11 family members , survivors , and  rescue and recovery workers  to offer services, education, and moments of connection and healing. 

There are many ways to support our mission: make a donation , become a member , or volunteer . 

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