A commemorative complex honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place here on September 11, 2001. The site is also widely known as Ground Zero.
On the morning of September 11, a group of Islamist terrorists hijacked four domestic U.S. airliners and turned them into weapons. Two planes were flown into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. A third struck the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense. The fourth plane, believed to be headed for the White House, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back and prevented it from reaching its target.
The attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in modern history.
The design of the memorial was selected through the largest architectural competition ever held, with 5,201 submissionsfrom architects representing 62 countries. The winning design was created by Michael Arad, a young American architect of Israeli origin.
His concept features two large rectangular reflecting pools, each set precisely within the footprint of the former Twin Towers. Water cascades down the inner walls of the pools, symbolizing endless tears for those who were lost. At the center of each pool is a seemingly bottomless void — a dark opening that cannot be seen through from any angle — representing the immeasurable loss and absence left behind.
The parapets surrounding the pools are lined with massive bronze panels engraved with the names of all the victims.
The memorial also includes a grove of 343 oak trees, representing the firefighters who lost their lives during the rescue efforts. Among them stands the Survivor Tree — a callery pear tree that once grew near the North Tower. It was severely damaged during the attacks, buried under rubble for months, and yet survived, becoming a living symbol of resilience and hope.
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9/11 Memorial
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