9/11 Memorial & Museum — Attraction in New York

I visited the museum and memorial yesterday and I recommend that everyone should attend when they have the opportunity to. Watching a documentary about 9/11 doesn’t come close to the emotional feeling of being on the actual grounds where it happened. It was a truly moving, emotional and impactful experience. The staff was nice and very helpful.

I bought my tickets from the memorial website, and bought the museum + memorial tour ticket, and it was well worth it. I highly recommend buying your tickets in advance. Our tour guide, I think his name was Patrick, was very knowledgeable, kind and took us through the tour in a timely manner. The tour was well organized. We had a 10 minute bathroom break, and were told that due to the sensitive nature we would be able to take a break whenever we needed. For the tour, you’ll meet at a the blue guided tours kiosk located at the center of the 9/11 Memorial Plaza. From there, you show your ticket, and you’re given a headset with a mp3 device. This device is what you’ll use to hear the tour guide speak to you. I found it to be very helpful and accessibility friendly for those of us who may be hard of hearing, and also helpful for the tour guide so they don’t have to project their voice so loudly over crowds.

If you don’t decide to buy the early access museum tour ticket, which gives you early access to experience the museum before it opens to the public, be prepared for large crowds, and also for no personal space. In every section of the museum, if I was looking at an exhibit for a couple of seconds, there was always someone “pushing” me to get out of the way so they could see. I’m always mindful that it’s not courteous to look at an exhibit for too long, as there’s others who would like to see as well, however, in the large crowds, many people were pushy, inpatient, and some of them will even start walking towards you, hoping you’ll get the hint and move so they can be in front. This was disappointing.

There was a large group of children on a field trip who were very noisy & disrespectful of the space and others around them, and their teachers couldn’t control them. So if you’re not choosing the early access ticket, keep in mind that you may experience loud children on a field trip. I do think that there could be better crowd management implemented by the museum director. It was hard to fully grasp the impact of certain displays due to the overwhelming amount of people in one room at a time. I felt rushed at times. (I’d like to point out that the tour guide had great crowd management skills & handled the children situation with grace & professionalism).

I do feel like there’s a huge opportunity for the museum to have a section for all of the people who died on 9/11 (with their families approval of course), that includes what they were like when they were alive, their hobbies, interests, etc. I think that would be better than some of them just being remembered by the belongings they had in their pockets at the time of their deaths.

The south tower pool was under construction when I attended, but the north tower pool was fully functioning. The pools are beautiful and powerful.

Overall, I think everyone should visit the museum and the memorial. It was a powerful experience that left a...

Visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is an experience that stays with you long after you leave—a deeply moving tribute to the lives lost, the bravery displayed, and the resilience of a nation in the face of unimaginable tragedy. It’s more than just a museum; it’s a place of reflection, remembrance, and profound respect.

The memorial itself is breathtaking in its simplicity and power. The two reflecting pools, built within the footprints of the Twin Towers, are surrounded by the names of the victims inscribed in bronze. The cascading water offers a sense of calm and continuity, symbolizing both loss and renewal. Standing there, you feel the weight of history while also finding moments of peace.

The museum takes you on a deeply emotional journey. Its thoughtfully curated exhibits include artifacts, photographs, audio recordings, and personal stories that bring the events of September 11, 2001, to life. From the twisted steel beams to the preserved belongings of victims and heroes, each item tells a story that’s both heartbreaking and inspiring.

One of the most poignant sections is the "In Memoriam" exhibit, where you can see the faces and learn about the lives of those who perished. It’s a stark reminder of the human cost of the attacks and a celebration of the lives that were tragically cut short.

The museum also provides a comprehensive historical context, detailing the events leading up to 9/11, the day itself, and the aftermath. The Survivor Stairs, the Last Column, and the recordings of first responders paint a vivid picture of courage and determination.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is not just a place for mourning—it’s a testament to resilience, unity, and hope. It serves as a reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of standing together in the face of adversity.

This is a must-visit for anyone who wants to honor the memory of the victims, learn about a pivotal moment in history, and reflect on the enduring impact of 9/11. It’s a humbling and unforgettable experience that ensures the stories of that day are...

This museum is extremely well curated, it's an impressive yet overwhelming experience. The building is special - it may not look much from the outside but that's the point, you drop down into the basement, under the memorial fountains and see the foundations of the towers for yourself. The exhibits are harrowing yet thoughtful, and you learn a lot when you're there. I would recommend anyone visiting New York should visit this museum, it helps you understand the modern city in more depth, and you feel closer to the people of New York once you leave. Whilst fantastically done, this is a very emotional and at times disturbing experience - you often see people, myself included, becoming very upset at what they're seeing (and what some of them are re-living). There are some important points that I felt were really well done - particularly the memorial rooms, individualising each of the people lost that day - and the explanation of who those evil people were. The museum makes sure to explain what extremism is, and that those people were in no way linked to the general, peaceful Islamic faith. The large exhibits are perhaps the most harrowing, they put into perspective the sheer scale of what happened that day, and for those who never saw them, how large and impressive the twin towers once were. The steelwork, the pieces of airplane, the fire trucks and the slurry wall all show the magnitude of what happened that day. I would be mindful about whether or not I take children in there - they would probably be very upset and disturbed by some of the exhibits. There are some warning signs where you can avoid the most difficult exhibits if you wish, and there is an area dedicated to those who fell from the towers - with some sad imagery - hidden behind a wall. We used our GoCity pass to get into the museum, so didn't need to buy a ticket in advance. I highly recommend this pass for first time visitors of New York - we got in much quicker than...