Looking Back

Museum and Memorial

Honoring those killed in the attacks on September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993, the design of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum "strives to make visible what is absent," said architect Michael Arad.

When completed, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum will feature three levels descending underground. On the street level, surrounded by hundreds of oak trees, the Memorial consists of two massive pools, or "memorial voids," within the footprints of the Twin Towers, and have the country’s largest manmade waterfalls. Around the edges of the pools will be inscriptions of the names of the individuals killed in the September 11 attacks and February 1993 bombing.

Beneath the plaza level, the Museum will feature a series of exhibits displaying artifacts ranging from building elements to personal mementos. Between the reflecting pools, visitors will descend to the Memorial Hall, a vast space where events can be held. Further beneath the reflecting pools, visitors will reach bedrock and the lowest level of the site. Here they can view structure remains at the foundation of the site. Also at this level will be the Memorial Center, a mausoleum housing unidentified remains of victims of September 11.

Behind 9/11...

Looking forward...