9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York: A Place of Remembrance
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum tells the story of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever committed in the USA. A moving tribute to those we lost.
Booking 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Official PartnerWhat You Need to Know About the 9/11 Museum
- Among all the museums in New York, the National September 11 Memorial Museum stands apart. The National September 11 Memorial Museum is entirely dedicated to the September 11, 2001 attacks. On that day, hijackers took control of commercial airplanes and crashed them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, as well as into the Pentagon in Washington. A fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back, preventing it from reaching its intended target in Washington, likely the Capitol.
- Facing this tragedy, the museum’s mission is to preserve the memory and honor the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks. The museum also covers the February 26, 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. A car bomb exploded in the parking garage of Tower 1, killing 6 people.
- The National September 11 Memorial Museum was built on the exact site of the terrorist attacks. It opened on September 11, 2011, with President Barack Obama in attendance. The two main exhibition halls occupy the former foundations of the Twin Towers. It’s a powerful location.
What to See at the National September 11 Memorial Museum
- Your visit begins with an overview of the events and a corridor leading to the World Trade Center foundations. As you descend the escalator, you’ll see on your left a piece of the antenna that once topped the North Tower, and right beside it, a fire truck from the New York Fire Department crushed during the collapse of the towers.
- You can then continue through the historical exhibition, which recounts September 11, 2001 hour by hour, with television news clips, newspaper articles, and photographs. In total, the 9/11 Museum displays more than 11,000 objects, from employee ID badges to eyeglasses found in the rubble. Audio recordings let you hear conversations in the airplane cockpits before the crashes, as well as exchanges between firefighters in the early hours of the tragedy.
- The exhibition includes a separate room marked with a clear warning: this section covers the people who, in desperation, jumped from the towers to escape the smoke. The photographs of these lives are particularly disturbing, and if you’re sensitive to such imagery, I’d suggest skipping this section.
- Beyond the historical exhibition, you can then explore the Memorial section. This smaller room displays photographs of all the victims of the September 11 attacks. You can learn more about each person using the large interactive tablets available. You’ll also see stuffed animals left for the youngest victims.
Visiting the 9/11 Museum
- Address: 180 Greenwich Street, New York. The museum is located on the September 11 Memorial plaza, directly between the two reflecting pools built in the foundations of the Twin Towers.
- Subway: Cortlandt St (Line 1).
- Hours: The National September 11 Memorial Museum is open daily, except certain Tuesdays, from 9 am to 7 pm. Note that the museum is open daily, including Tuesdays, in June and July. The outdoor memorial is freely accessible every day.
- Admission: $36 for adults, $30 for seniors over 65, $24 for children ages 7-12, and $30 for ages 13-17. You can purchase tickets in advance directly through our 9/11 Museum ticket reservation. You can pay in euros, Swiss francs, or Canadian dollars, which helps you avoid bank fees and currency conversion charges.
- Money-saving tip: The National September 11 Memorial Museum is included in the New York City Pass, the New York City Explorer Pass, and the New York Pass. Pass holders enjoy faster entry through a dedicated line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the Memorial and the 9/11 Museum?
The Memorial is an outdoor space on the former World Trade Center plaza. It features large reflecting pools located exactly where the Twin Towers’ foundations once stood. This area is free and open to the public. The 9/11 Museum is a paid attraction located underground beneath the Memorial. Advance reservations are essential for the museum due to high demand and daily visitor limits.
Can children visit the 9/11 Museum?
The museum recommends that children under 10 not visit. I agree that it’s best to avoid bringing young children. The historical exhibition contains many photographs and videos that are quite graphic and disturbing. Be especially cautious about the section showing photographs of people who jumped from the towers.
The National September 11 Memorial Museum in Video
The September 11 Memorial in Video
Visitor Reviews of the Museum
Benjamin and Orlane’s review: “What can you say about this museum? It’s very well done. The building is underground, and the museum spans 4 or 5 levels below the memorial. It’s moving and sad. We saw many people in tears, and there are tissue dispensers throughout the museum. But it’s beautifully designed, and I think the 9/11 Museum pays a fitting tribute to the families of the victims.
They show you everything and explain it all from beginning to end: the Twin Towers before the attacks, an explanation of the attacks with a map showing the flight paths, short films of the attacks, the collapse of the towers, and many images of the rescue efforts and the clearing of the destroyed foundations. There are many other images from various sources, but I’ll let you discover them yourself.
You’ll also see many damaged objects from the terrorist attacks that have been preserved and displayed here, including concrete structures from the World Trade Center, a destroyed escalator, a burned fire truck, and personal items belonging to some of the victims who worked in the Twin Towers: wallets, ID cards, driver’s licenses, glasses, and cell phones. In total, we spent three good hours there, and we don’t regret it.”