GROUND ZERO, FREEDOM TOWER / ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER, 911 MEMORIAL
For those of us who are old enough to remember, we can tell you just where we were the day it was announced the USA was being attacked by terrorists. I was in my car driving my child to school when I started listening to a story the newscaster was telling on the radio. I thought it was just that — a story.
It seemed unimaginable that anyone would fly planes into the two tallest buildings on New York’s Manhattan Island (at the time the world’s tallest building) just to kill innocent people. But, it did happen, and it was real.
GROUND ZERO
On 9-11-01, (known simply as 911 by Americans), Islamist terrorists hijacked four planes and crashed two of them into each of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and the third was overtaken by heroic Americans and crashed into a field before it reached its destination. More than three thousand people died (343 of those firefighters rescuing survivors). The twin towers fell to dust and Americans started referring to the site as Ground Zero (such as would be found in a nuclear explosion).
ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER. FREEDOM TOWER
One World Trade Center (WTC) aka Freedom Tower was built in its place. WTC is now the tallest building in the western hemisphere and the USA reaching 1776 feet high. It is the 7th tallest building in the world. And it is no misnomer that it is 1776 feet high, the same year the Declaration of Independence was signed in America.
You can purchase a ticket to the 102nd floor for $38 to view 360 degree views and for $48 you receive priority lane access to the elevator and a digital skyline guide that you can download and learn about all the different buildings in New York (worth the extra $10). At the $68 level you are given a 60 minute guided tour, escorted priority entry into the observatory (no long lines), and $15 to spend in the cafe, bar, restaurant or gift shop. Once inside the elevator it takes 47 seconds to the top.
NATIONAL September 11 MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM
Freedom Tower New YorkLocated on the exact location of the Old World Trade Center and directly next to One World Trade Center is the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. It honors the victims of 911 as well as those in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Two huge waterfalls and a reflecting pool were built on this site. One can still see occasional flowers placed onto the names of the victims who fell during the attack. Victim names are carved into metal plates and displayed on large carved stones that surround the reflecting pool.
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