Navigating New York: The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

After the ferry ride to see the Statue of Liberty, we caught the next “hop-on-hop-off” bus and got off after two stops to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. We thought it’s important for our little boy to see this place, to explain to him what happened here on September 9, 2011, and to make him understand its implications, not just for the people of the United States, but for the rest of the world.

It was our first time to be here as well. On our last visit to New York City, this memorial-museum was still under construction. We couldn’t believe how long ago that was and seeing this building standing tall now gave us goosebumps.

We first walked to the twin reflecting pools that feature the largest manmade falls in North America. Each spanning almost an acre and covering the area where the Twin Towers once stood, it is a befitting memorial to those who perished in the terror attacks here at the World Trade Centre site and at the Pentagon on that fateful September day, as well as those who lost their lives at the World Trade Centre bombing in February 1993.

Their names are inscribed on the bronze panels edging the memorial pools and were dotted with flowers and candles. We offered a quick prayer for them. My son had a lot of questions, and my husband and I did our best to describe the event. He looked up in the sky and said, “It must have been so scary for the people who were here that time to see those planes hitting the buildings!”

Next, we walked to the plaza, which serves as a rooftop for the structure housing the museum down below. The paving of the plaza sits on a series of concrete tables that suspend the plaza over troughs of nutrient-rich soil for the swamp white oak trees that were planted there. The builders chose this particular tree because of its durability and leaf colour which ranges from amber to golden brown, and even pink. The variety of colours and the different heights the trees grow to represent the diversity of the individuals whose lives are commemorated here.

We then proceeded to the museum entrance. The line was long, but it was moving fast. We also had “fast track” passes which made it quicker for us to get inside the building, and which I appreciated because it was so hot and humid outside. The museum’s air-conditioning was a much-needed respite.

The museum features a permanent collection of artifacts, manuscripts, photos, videos, and other materials about key events in American history. There are also two core exhibition rooms that tell the story of 9/11 through interactive technology, archives, narratives, and a collection of artifacts.

The historical exhibition presents the story in three parts – the events of the day, the events leading up to the attacks, and the world after 9/11. The memorial exhibition commemorates the lives of those who perished. There was also an interactive timeline of the events of 9/11, a panoramic media installation that features a time-lapse footage from Ground Zero, a wall full of photographs of the rescue operations, and recorded interviews. These, I think, were temporary exhibits which get replaced every few months or so and are mounted in cooperation with artists, photographers, videographers, publishing houses, and the like.

The most memorable section for me was the Memorial Exhibit where the portrait photographs of the 2,983 victims are displayed on the walls. There are touch-screen tables where one can look up each person’s profile and a wall with a rotating selection of the victims’ personal artifacts donated by their families.

There is also an inner chamber with a big screen that projects selected individual’s profiles and includes audio remembrances recorded by family, friends, and former colleagues. Being there and watching the video and audio clips made everything so tangible. Though I do not personally know any of the victims, their stories and what their loved ones say about them made me realize that it could have been me or any of my family…and how innocent lives were lost and how great was the vacuum it created in the hearts of the people who are close to them.

I think my son, who is a highly sensitive (and, even emphatic) child, was deeply affected as well. He was so quiet when we were in that room and remained to be so until we left.

On our way out, we passed by a mini theatre that was showing a short documentary on the construction of the 9/11 Memorial. It was not the best timing though, because they were already letting the audience in and there was no more room. The next showing was not until after an hour. I reminded my husband that we had to catch the bus and that it was going to be rush hour soon. We didn’t want them to be late for the Springsteen show.

My son expressed disappointment at not being able to watch “the movie,” but my husband told him that a surprise was waiting for him, that’s why we had to go soon.

After a few minutes at the gift shop, we headed out to look for the nearest bus stop. It turned out that we were waiting at the wrong spot, but a kind driver stopped across the street, opened the door, and since the red light was on, prodded us to hurry and board the bus before the light changed into green. He let us off at Times Square and we walked back to our hotel.