The National September 11 Memorial & Museum sits on 8 acres at the original World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. Two square reflecting pools, each one acre, occupy the exact footprints of the Twin Towers. Bronze parapets around the edges carry the names of the 2,983 people killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks and the February 26, 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker designed the pools, titled Reflecting Absence; water drops 30 feet down the sides into a smaller void at the center, making them the largest manmade waterfalls in North America. Over 400 swamp white oaks fill the plaza around them.
9/11 Memorial hours
The Memorial Plaza is open daily, 8 AM to 8 PM, no charge and no reservation needed. The Museum is open Wednesday through Monday (plus some Tuesdays), 9 AM to 7 PM, with last entry at 5:30 PM. Confirm the current schedule at 911memorial.org before you head over.
What you'll see at the 9/11 Memorial
- North & South Pools — one acre each, sitting exactly where the towers stood.
- The Survivor Tree — a Callery pear found alive in the wreckage back in October 2001.
- Memorial Glade — a pathway that honors people still sick from 9/11-related illnesses.
- 9/11 Memorial Museum — underground, tells the full story, and needs its own ticket.
- The names parapets — 2,983 names, grouped by "meaningful adjacencies" so coworkers, friends and first responders appear side by side.
- One World Trade Center — the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower, with One World Observatory on floors 100–102.
- The Oculus — Santiago Calatrava's white-winged transit hub, a short walk across the plaza.
- St. Paul's Chapel — the 18th-century chapel two blocks away that served as a relief station for rescue workers during the recovery.
How to visit the 9/11 Memorial
The outdoor Memorial Plaza is free, open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM, and needs no ticket. Security screening happens at the perimeter. For the Museum itself, which sits underground between the two pools, book online at 911memorial.org ahead of time — same-day slots run out fast in summer and around holidays. Free Admission Mondays (5:30–7 PM) go up on the website each Monday at 7 AM ET and are first come, first served; there's also a separate free slot on the first Sunday of each month for people who live, work or study in the New York area. Plan on at least 45 to 90 minutes inside; a lot of visitors end up staying 2 to 3 hours. The Museum is wheelchair accessible and runs audio guides in nine languages including ASL.
9/11 Memorial Museum tickets and pricing
As of August 2026, adult tickets run $36, seniors (65+), college students and young adults (13–17) run $30, youth ages 7–12 run $24, and kids 6 and under get in free. Active-duty and retired military, U.S. veterans, FDNY/NYPD/PAPD, 9/11 family members and museum members don't pay, with valid ID. Combo packages with One World Observatory and/or the Statue of Liberty ferry are sold directly through 911memorial.org — check that page for current combo pricing, since it changes. Skip-the-line guided tours are worth it on a crowded day.
Guided 9/11 Memorial tours
A guided 9/11 Memorial & Museum tour gets you skip-the-line entry, a small group, and a guide who frequently lived through that day — a survivor, a first responder, or someone who worked the recovery. These usually run 2 hours and walk you through the names, the artifacts (the Last Column, the Survivor Stairs, FDNY Ladder 3), and the wider history of Lower Manhattan. You'll also find walking tours covering Ground Zero, St. Paul's Chapel and the Financial District, often bundled with One World Observatory tickets.
Where the 9/11 Memorial Park is located
The Memorial sits on the original World Trade Center site at 180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007, in the Financial District. Nearest subway stops are World Trade Center (E), Cortlandt Street (1), Fulton Street (2/3/4/5/A/C/J/Z) and Park Place (2/3), each a 2 to 5 minute walk. The PATH train from New Jersey lets you off directly inside the Oculus.
What to expect emotionally
This is a working cemetery, not just a public plaza — for many of the 2,983 victims, it's the only resting place they have. Visitors tuck flowers and small flags into the engraved names; on birthdays, families come by to leave white roses. Inside, the Museum's exhibits get heavy fast, with voicemails left by victims, the recovered fire trucks, and a timeline that walks through the whole day. Give yourself a quiet stretch afterward — Battery Park, the Brookfield Place waterfront, and the Oculus are all decent spots to sit for a while. Battery Park is also a short walk south and is where the Statue of Liberty ferry departs, so it pairs naturally with a 9/11 Memorial visit.
Frequently asked
Is the 9/11 Memorial free?
Yes. The outdoor Memorial Plaza with the two reflecting pools costs nothing and is open every day. The 9/11 Memorial Museum is a separate, paid ticket.
What are the hours of the 9/11 Memorial?
The Memorial Plaza is open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM. Museum hours shift by season, so check before you go.
How long should I spend at the 9/11 Memorial?
Give the Memorial Plaza 30 to 45 minutes. Add another 1.5 to 2 hours if you're also doing the Museum.
What's the closest subway to the 9/11 Memorial?
World Trade Center (E), Cortlandt St (1), Fulton St (2/3/4/5/A/C/J/Z) and Park Place (2/3) all put you within a 2 to 5 minute walk.
How much are 9/11 Memorial Museum tickets?
As of August 2026, adults pay $36, seniors (65+) and young adults (13-17) pay $30, youth ages 7-12 pay $24, and children 6 and under get in free. Veterans, active-duty military and FDNY/NYPD/PAPD get in free with valid ID. Free Admission Monday tickets (5:30-7 PM) are released each Monday at 7 AM ET, first come first served — check current pricing at 911memorial.org.
Can you visit the 9/11 Memorial with children?
Yes — the outdoor plaza works for any age. The Museum is a different story: it's built for ages 10 and up, since several exhibits are graphic and emotionally heavy.
What is the Survivor Tree at the 9/11 Memorial?
A Callery pear pulled alive from the rubble in October 2001, nursed back to health, and replanted at the site in 2010. Cuttings from it have been sent to communities around the world after other tragedies.
Is there a dress code at the 9/11 Memorial?
Nothing formal, but people treat the ground as sacred and dress accordingly. Keep your voice down, don't climb on the pools, skip the picnic, and expect security screening before entering the Museum.
Can I visit One World Observatory the same day?
Yes, it's right across the plaza. Buying a combo ticket with the 9/11 Museum saves time in line and a bit of money. Budget 4 to 5 hours if you're doing both.