On 11 September 2001, the US faced a deadly and violent terrorism attack when four passenger planes were hijacked; two crashed into the north and south towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, the third into the Pentagon in Virginia, and the last plane, headed for the White House, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. These attacks resulted in the death of 2,977 people and caused injuries to over 6,000 people
To commemorate the innocent lives torn apart by such violence, the 9/11 Memorial Museum was created. It is a tribute to the lives lost, grieving families, and the officials who fought hard as part of the rescue mission. A trip to New York definitely warrants a visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, to pay homage to the victims and their families.
The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is a physical reminder of what took place on September 11th, 2001 and is a site dedicated to those who lost their lives. The site is made up of two parts - The Ground Zero Memorial and the 9/11 Museum.
The Ground Zero Memorial consists of two reflection pools and a waterfall, which are located right at the footprints of where the Twin Towers once stood. Entry to the Ground Zero Memorial is free of charge and does not require a ticket.
The 9/11 Museum, on the other hand, sits at the ‘archaeological heart of the World Trade Centre Site’ and tells the story of 9/11 through a variety of media, artifacts, archives and narratives. Entry to the museum does require a ticket.
You can choose to visit both the memorial and the museum, or just one, depending upon your convenience and time-restraint. However, do keep in mind that this experience is the 4th most popular thing to do in New York (according to TripAdvisor), so you may want to make time for it and explore the 9/11 Memorial Museum entirely.
Ground Zero Memorial
The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute to the near 3,000 people who lost their lives during the World Trade Centre bombing in 1993 and the 9/11 attacks. The Ground Zero Memorial features two reflection pools, nearly an acre in size each, and a quaint, peaceful waterfall (largest man-made waterfall in North America). On the bronze rims around these pools, you will find the names of every person who died during this tragedy etched into the metal, a powerful reminder of the greatest loss of life resulting from a terrorist attack in the US. This area, with the pools and waterfall, is a place to remember, honour and pay respects to the victims of this attack, the rescue personnel and their families.
At the Ground Zero Memorial, you will also find what’s known as ‘The Survivor Tree’, a Callery Pear tree that suffered severe damages at the time of the attacks. This tree was cared for and nursed back to health by the Department of Parks and Recreation, and was reintroduced to the site in 2010. This tree, with renewed branches, limbs and vigour serves as a living embodiment of hope and survival.
9/11 Museum
The 9/11 Museum in short, seeks to explore, study and understand the implications of the events of 9/11 and consider its continuing significance. The museum consists of two core exhibitions - the Historical Exhibition and the Memorial Exhibition.
The Historical Exhibition is located within the original footprint of the North Tower and tells the events of this tragedy in 3 parts - Events on the Day, Before 9/11 and After 9/11. These stories are told and conveyed using original artifacts, images, audio/video recordings and first-person testimonials. The Memorial Exhibition is located in the original footprint of the South Tower, and it features portrait photographs of the 2,983 victims. Visitors can read more about these people, through an interactive tablet, and also hear about the victims’ lives, as told by their family members.
Apart from the permanent exhibitions, the 9/11 Museum also hosts a number of temporary exhibitions and houses a permanent collection which includes over 11,000 artifacts, textiles, artwork, books and manuscripts relating to the tragedy.
The 9/11 Museum is quite vast, with a number of collections and exhibitions, making it easy to get a little confused when you first enter. To avoid this confusion it is recommended to take a guided tour of the museum. With a guide, you will be able to make sense of everything you see and enjoy the museum to its fullest.
9/11 Memorial Museum Tickets
Based on your budget, convenience, and travel time, we have a variety of 9/11 Museum tickets. You can book standard entry tickets, skip-the-line tickets, or guided tours.
A major benefit of getting your tickets online at Headout is that you can enjoy a variety of benefits with each booking. From great discounts and additional cashback to flexible cancelation, instant confirmation, and more.
Please note that while the Memorial is free for all, tickets to Museum must be booked online in advance.
Discount/Free Tickets:
- 9/11 family members
- 9/11 museum members
- 9/11 rescue and recovery workers
- FDNY/NYPD/PAPD
- Active/Retired U.S. Military
- Free admission on Mondays
- Children under the age of 7
Practical Information for Visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum
9/11 Memorial Museum Opening Hours
- 9/11 Memorial: Open daily, from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM (final entry at 04:00 PM)
- 9/11 Memorial Museum: Thursday to Monday, between 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM (final entry at 04:00 PM)
- Free admission on Mondays between 03:30 PM to 05:00 PM
9/11 Memorial Address
180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007, USA
Google Map Directions
Getting to the 9/11 Memorial Museum
By Subway
- A, C, 1, 2 or 3 to Chambers Street
- 2 or 3 trains to Park Place
- E Train to World Trade Centre
- R Train to Rector Street
- R Train to Cortlandt Street
By Bus
- M55 Southbound: get off at Broadway and Thames Street
- M55 Northbound: get off at Trinity Place and Rector Street
- M22 Southbound: get off on Vesey Street between North End Avenue and West Street
By Taxi
The closest taxi stands are located on West Street and Liberty Street and on Vesey Street at West Street.
9/11 Memorial Tickets - Combos and Deals
Make the most of your visit to New York by pairing your visit to the 9/11 Museum with other classic tours.
Insider Tips for Visting The 9/11 Memorial Museum
- Be sure to book your 9/11 museum tickets online! This not only helps you save considerable time at the venue but also helps you avail discounts and deals.
- On Tuesdays, after 5:00 PM, the 9/11 museum tickets are distributed for free, on a first-come first-served basis.
- Take a guided tour of the 9/11 memorial and museum for a more immersive and fruitful experience.
- Try to visit the memorial and museum on a weekday morning. This will help you avoid all the crowds and long lines!
- You are allowed to pictures for personal use, but do keep in mind that this is a place of reverence and mourning.
- Both the museum and memorial are wheelchair-accessible
- Know that there is a 9/11 Tribute Museum on Fulton street which is a different museum from the 9/11 Memorial Museum. The 9/11 Tribute Museum is a project of the September 11th Families’ Association which brings together those who want to learn about 9/11 with those who experienced it.
