On 9th September 2001, the international community watched in horror as terrorists turned commercial planes into weapons and used them to attack the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. In New York, however, people pulled together to remove the rubble, rescue survivors and rebuild the city.
Ground Zero – the patch of ground where the World Trade Center once stood – remained as a scar in the fabric of Manhattan, a permanent reminder of the lives lost when the Twin Towers collapsed. Reconstruction is now underway, with plans to create a space which will honour the rescuers and remember the victims.
In 2011, Memorial Plaza was opened to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It is a quiet but uplifting place planted with 400 trees, remembering both the victims and the heroes of that day. Two pools have been created in the footprints of the Twin Towers, with the names of the 2,977 victims engraved on their edges. Take a moment to reflect as you watch the waterfalls constantly repeating their cycle of loss and renewal.
One of many remarkable stories is that of the Survivor Tree, which was found buried beneath the wreckage. Although severely damaged by the flames, the pear tree managed to survive and regrow – a living illustration of renewal.
Beneath Memorial Plaza sits an underground exhibit, designed to look like a portion of one of the towers. Known as the 9/11 museum, it houses artefacts from the hours and days following the attacks. Work is still on-going, so expect the site to keep evolving. Seven more buildings are planned, amongst them the Freedom Tower which will stand proud as the third tallest building in the world.
Both the Plaza and Museum can be reached by public transport, with numerous bus and subway stops nearby. Please remember that the site is dedicated to quite reflection and act respectfully during your visit.
