This year 2024, marks twenty three years since 9/11 changed the world forever, and while millions of people have deeply personal memories of these events, an entire generation — those college-aged and younger — have no lived memory of September 11, 2001.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum will conduct its annual remembrance event to mark the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This ceremony will honor the 2,983 individuals who lost their lives in the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93, as well as those who perished in the February 26, 1993, World Trade Center bombing.
The Tribute in Light
The Tribute in Light, with its beams of light shining into the night sky, will return as a tribute to all those who were killed on 9/11.
Assembled on the roof of the Battery Parking Garage south of the 9/11 Memorial, the twin beams reach up to four miles into the sky and are comprised of eighty-eight 7,000-watt xenon lightbulbs positioned into two 48-foot squares, echoing the shape and orientation of the Twin Towers. The installation can also be viewed from a 60-mile radius around Lower Manhattan.
The lights will be on beginning at sunset on September 11 and will fade away at dawn on September 12. The lights are best viewed when it is completely dark.
Visiting The National 9/11 Memorial Museum
Located at the World Trade Center in New York City, the 9/11 Memorial Museum tells the story of 9/11 through media, narratives, and a collection of monumental and authentic artifacts, presenting visitors with personal stories of loss, recovery, and hope.
Except for the entry pavilion designed by the Norwegian architects Snøhetta, the greater part of the vast 10,000 square feet of exhibition space is 70 feet below ground level, at the foundations of the original twin towers. You could easily opt for a self-guided museum tour, but it is worth the $44 (or $65, if you want early access before the museum opens at 9 a.m.) to have an expert lead you around.
What You will find here
The museum’s permanent collection features a multimedia compilation that includes over 40,000 still images, 300 videos, 3,500 oral recordings, and more than 14,000 objects such as ephemera, textiles, artwork, books, and manuscripts. This extensive collection offers a comprehensive historical overview of 9/11 while also providing intimate insights into the lives of the individuals who perished.
The museum strikes a masterful balance: it is grand in scale, contemplative in design, and deeply personal in its presentation. It honors the vast scope of the loss, both physical and spiritual. The National September 11 Museum spans 110,000 square feet of exhibition space, showcasing artifacts that commemorate the events and victims of 9/11. However, the museum itself also serves as a powerful symbol.
The building and pavilion were designed by lead architect David Brody Bond and the internationally acclaimed architecture and landscape firm SNØHETTA. The pavilion’s design, inspired by deconstructivism, mirrors the collapsed Twin Towers, resembling a partially collapsed building. This above-ground entrance acts as a bridge between the memory of the past events preserved in the 9/11 Museum and the promise of renewal embodied by the plaza.
How Long to Spend at the Museum
The museum is expansive, so be prepared to spend a significant amount of time standing or walking. Benches are thoughtfully placed throughout, including in multimedia rooms, where taking a seat and spending some time is highly recommended. The museum is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Take A Guided Tour
While you can choose a self-guided tour of the museum, investing in an expert-led tour for $44 (or $65 for early access before the museum opens at 9 a.m.) is highly recommended. Unlike typical art tours that focus on the technical aspects of artworks, these guided tours provide a poignant oral history of the events of 9/11. The day comes alive through the chilling stories of the Twin Towers’ collapse, the courageous sacrifices of first responders, and the personal histories of those who were lost.
Expert Tips
You can complete a visit to the museum in about 60 minutes if you move quickly through the film feature sections and focus on the historical exhibition, which covers the events leading up to 9/11, the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Flight 93, and the aftermath. However, spending two hours there will allow for a more thorough and reflective experience.
A visit wouldn’t be complete without a contemplative walk around the 9/11 Memorial, where you can read the names of those who perished and admire the cascading waters of the reflecting pools, which now stand proudly in the shadows of One World Trade Center.
Photos : Shutterstock
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