9/11 Memorial

You’re now standing before one of the twin waterfall pools that make up the 9/11 Memorial. This is the very spot where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center once stood. Before the horrific attacks of 2001, this was a world-famous business complex, and for a time, the North Tower was the world’s tallest skyscraper. Inaugurated in 1973, the World Trade Center was a symbol of American power; each of its towers boasted 110 floors, housing offices for some of the world’s biggest companies. But all that changed on September 11, 2001, when two hijacked airplanes struck the two towers within minutes of each other, causing them to catch fire and collapse within hours. As most of you surely remember, this tragedy shook not just Americans, but the entire world, having destroyed one of the greatest American landmarks and claimed a devastating number of victims. This is now a place of remembrance and reflection, as well as a tribute to the 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks. It was inaugurated in 2011, ten years after the tragedy, and was built where the Twin Towers once stood. The memorial is made up of two large 9-meter-deep waterfall pools, symbolizing the collapse of the towers and the enduring memory of this event. The names of the victims are inscribed in bronze around the edges of the pools – those of the people who died on 9/1, as well as those of the six victims of the 1993 terrorist bombing at the World Trade Center. A little further on, you’ll find a second pool marking the location of the South Tower. Nearby, there’s also the 9/11 Memorial Museum, which houses over 10,000 objects and photographs recovered from the rubble. It’s a deeply moving museum that tells the story of one of the world’s greatest tragedies.