Discover 9/11 Memorial | Find the Names of the Victims and First Responders

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The September 11, 2001 attacks were a series of 4 coordinated attacks by terrorists against the United States. It resulted in 2977 deaths, over 25,000 injuries and significant long-term health consequences to people, and is the deadliest terrorist attack in history. The 9/11 memorial commemorates the people and rescuers who lost their lives on that fateful day. Read on to learn more about the 9/11 memorial built to honor these people. 

What is the 9/11 Memorial?

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Why Visit the 9/11 Memorial?

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What Does the 9/11 Memorial Symbolize?

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The Competition for 9/11 Memorial Design

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) launched the World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition in 2003 for a memorial in dedication to the lives lost during 9/11. Eight finalists were selected from 5201 entries from 63 nations across the world. Reflecting Absence designed by Peter Walker and Michael Arad from Handel Architects was chosen as the winning design.

Design of the 9/11 Memorial

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The 9/11 memorial’s focal points are the two pools, which are nearly an acre in area and are present at the footprints of the north and south towers. The pools are home to massive 30 feet tall waterfalls that fall into a square basin. The water drops a further 20 feet into a central void. These pools represent “absence made visible”; despite water flowing into the voids, it can never be filled. The sound of falling water makes this a tranquil place that seems completely isolated from the rest of the city. 

The names of the 2983 people who were killed in 1993 and 2001 are inscribed on the edge of the memorial pools on bronze parapets. The names are grouped together based on the circumstances and the locations where the victims found themselves during the attacks. The North Pool contains the names of the people who were killed at the North Tower, and the South Pool includes the names of those killed in the South Tower as well as the first responders. 

9/11 Memorial Glade

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The 9/11 Memorial Glade is dedicated in the honor of the hundreds of thousands of survivors, responders, residents, and workers who were exposed to the toxins in the air around the World Trade Center site. These individuals suffered and continue to suffer from chronic illnesses that have resulted in the death of thousands.

The Glade was opened on the 30th of May, 2019, exactly 17 years after the end of the recovery efforts. The Glade is located to the west of Survivor Tree, approximately at the location where the primary ramp for the rescue and recovery operations once stood. 

The Glade features a pathway that is flanked by six monoliths that weigh between 13 and 18 tons. These monoliths incorporate steel that comes from the World Trade Center site.

Survivor Tree

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The Survivor Tree is a single Callery Pear tree that was discovered by rescue workers in October 2001 at Ground Zero. The New York City Park and Recreation Department helped remove the tree from this site, and slowly nursed it back to health. Since it survived the 9/11 attacks, it went on to be called the Survivor Tree. The tree was returned to the site of the World Trade Center in 2010 and currently stands as a symbol of perseverance and resilience. 

Survivor Tree Seedling Program

Launched on September 11, 2013, the 9/11 Memorial gives seedlings from the Survivor Tree to three communities every year. These communities have usually endured great loss and tragedy in the form of terrorism, violence, or natural disasters. 

In 2021, the three communities were the World Health Organization, for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa Fe High School, for the killing of 8 students and 2 teachers in 2018, and the Norway communities of Oslo and Utoya, for the 77 people who were killed by a gunman.

Finding a Name on the 9/11 Memorial

There are 2983 names inscribed on the bronze parapets of the 9/11 memorial. People can find these names by entering one of the following pieces of information, the birthplace or residence, the name, employer or other affiliation, the first responder unit, or the flight. 

9/11 Memorial Today - Tribute in Light

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First shown 6 months after the attack and then every year on 9/11, Tribute in Light is a public art installation that commemorates and honors every soul that was killed in the September 11 attacks. The night sky is illuminated by the skylights on the pool to celebrate the unbreakable spirit of the people of New York City. 

The twin beams reach up to 4 miles in the sky, mimicking the shape of the two towers that once stood. On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Museum & Memorial partnered with NYC & Company to light up the buildings throughout the city to light up the night sky for a Tribute in Lights.

Controversies Around the 9/11 Memorial

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Mohammad Salman Hamdani

Mohammad Salman Hamdani was a Pakistani American who served in the New York Police Department as a cadet and medical technician. Initially believed to have been involved with the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks, the suspicion was eventually proven to be false and he was hailed as a hero by the mayor and police commissioner. An intersection in Bayside in Queens was also named in honor of Mohammed Hamdani. 

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Arabic Brochures

The memorial’s brochures were translated into 10 different languages, but Arabic was not included in them. The ADC (American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee) questioned this decision through a letter to the directors of the memorial. In 2015, a complaint was lodged by the ADC with the US Dept of Housing and Urban Development. Finally, in December 2017, the ADC announced that a settlement was reached and that the commemorative guide would be translated to Arabic. 

Plan Your Visit to the 9/11 Memorial

Where is the 9/11 Memorial located?
What are the 9/11 Memorial Opening Hours?

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Book Your 9/11 Museum Tickets

9/11 Museum & Memorial Admission Ticket
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9/11 Ground Zero Guided Tour with Skip the Line Tickets
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1 hr. 30 min.
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Guided Tour of Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial & Wall Street
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5 hr.
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New York Explorer Pass By Go City
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Frequently Asked Questions About the 9/11 Memorial

Q. What is the 9/11 Memorial?

A. The 9/11 Memorial includes two nearly 1-acre wide pools where the Twin Towers once stood. It honors the lives of the victims and the first responders by listing 2983 names of the people who were affected in the 1993 and 2001 attacks on the WTC.

Q. Do I need tickets to visit the 9/11 Memorial?

A. No, entry into the 9/11 Memorial is free. You will, however, need to buy 9/11 Museum tickets to get entry into the museum.

Q. Can I buy 9/11 Museum tickets online?

A. Yes, you can easily buy 9/11 Museum tickets online.

Q. Is there free admission into the 9/11 Memorial?

A. Admission into the 9/11 Memorial is free at all times.

Q. What are the 9/11 Memorial opening hours?

A. The 9/11 Memorial is open every day from 9 AM to 8 PM.

Q. Why is the 9/11 Memorial important?

A. Along with being the two largest manmade waterfalls in North America, the 9/11 Memorial commemorates and honors the lives of the many people that were lost in the devastating attacks on the WTC in 1993 and 2001. The Tribute in Light art installation presented on every anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is also a symbol of the unbreakable spirit of New York. 

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