The World Trade Centre site has changed a lot since the first time I vistted back in 1996. I have seen it when the Twin Towers were at this site and remember looking down from the outside observation deck and seeing the communication tower on top of the roof. I saw on TV the fateful day of 9/11 and then saw in person the site flattened as Ground Zero then on subsequent trips the construction from Ground Zero to the breath taking memorial it is today.
On another blog, I will talk just about the National 9/11 Museum, but in this blog I just want to mention a few ground level and above sights. All the areas except the Museum are free to view.
1. The Memorial Pools- these lie in the footprints of where the Twin Towers once soared. They have names of people and first responders cut into the metal barrier around each pool. The metal is designed to never feel cool to the touch. We were there last in December and it was approx -15 degrees C in temperature and yet when we took our gloves off, the metal was in fact warm to the touch.
The Travel Concierge Tip- Take a photo of a name or write down a name that appears around the memorial and research that person to have a more intimate experience of the people that lost their lives on and around 9/11.
The Travel Concierge tip: Try to plan your time Downtown to see the Memorial pools during the day and lit up after dark.
2.The Freedom Tower- This beautiful glass architecture masterpiece has been teh topic of many documentaries showing its strength and structure that can withold plane, missile and truck attacks. It is a fortress, and yet when you see it in person, all you see is the beauty.
3. The Freedom Tree-Many people come to this site and yet don't know and don't go looking for the Freedom Tree. This tree was the symbol of the American spirit. The tree's amazing story can be found here.
4. The Occulus Transportation Hub and Shops-
You cannot miss this really unusually shaped structure. Many people think that it is the 9/11 Museum but it is the Transportation hub and has a lot of shops and restaurants within it. At night the roof lights up. The view from inside looking up is fantastic. A list of retailers can be found here.
The Travel Concierge tip: Be aware that there will be security armed around the whole 9/11 site. there are vans and roads blocked around the area for everyone's safety.
5. Double Check Statue- Nearby, you will find the statue of a man leaning over his briefcase. This statue was around before 9/11 and was badly beaten around on September 11. First Responders put a hard hat on his head and fire hose next to him. He was coated in a darker colour (he was bronze before) to fit the sombre nature of 9/11. He is in Liberty Plaza which is on the southern side heading south along Greenwich St.
6. Firefighter house and memorial wall-
7. National 9/11 Museum- I will do a whole blog just on this emotional museum. Can I just say here that they have done a fantastic job and it really felt like a sort of closure from all the footage we saw on TV seeing things like crushed fire trucks and a random shoe on the side walk. Really worth the money and I would ABSOLUTELY say book online ahead of time to ensure you get the timed ticket appropriate to your plans.
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