Few New York City destinations inspire as much reverence and contemplation as the 9/11 Memorial & Museum created to remember the terrorist attacks and to recognize those who died that tragic day. Located in the Financial District, the memorial and museum sit on the site of the previous Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. At Arlo Hotel, many of our guests visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum as a part of their itineraries.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum features twin reflecting pools that are sunk into the previous foundations of the North and South Towers. Surrounding each pool are bronze panels inscribed with the names of everyone that died during the 2001 and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing attacks. There’s a kiosk that contains a list of all the names, so visitors can locate someone and find their name on the panels. Another notable outdoors feature is the Survivor Tree, a pear tree that survived the attacks, and was revived and still grows, despite severe damage. We at Arlo Hotel believe it’s a testament to the city’s resilience and rebirth after the attacks and is an ideal place for reflection.
Inside the museum there are several exhibitions, including one that tells the story of the attacks, including a history of the World Trade Center. Another discusses those that died during the attacks, including the names of noted first responders who reentered the buildings before their collapse. And the museum features the Foundation Hall that showcases the remaining foundation from the buildings and the Last Column, a 36-foot-high piece that is covered with mementos placed by rescue and iron workers during the rescue attempts. Consider taking a guided tour of the museum to learn more about the events, how the nation and NYC responded, and the heroic actions by first responders.
One tip for families considering the memorial is to think about the kid’s ages and maturity level. The memorial can bring out some strong emotions, and the museum contains some distressing imagery and content. Discuss with your significant other and family members if visiting the memorial is appropriate, or if it’s a better destination for a future trip when the kids are older. If you do visit with kids, then set expectations about behavior and be sure they have some context about the memorial’s meaning and some background on the events that caused the destruction.