9/11 Memorial

This memorial commemorates the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when coordinated acts of terrorism forever altered the United States and the world. On that day, four commercial airliners were hijacked. Two were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, AA flight 11 and UA flight 75, one into the Pentagon, AA flight 77, and a fourth, UA Flight 93, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew resisted the hijackers’ plans.

The gray tones throughout this space recall the ash and concrete dust that blanketed lower Manhattan following the collapse of the Twin Towers. The steel displayed here is authentic World Trade Center steel, recovered from the 93rd, 94th, and 95th floors of the North Tower, which was struck by American Airlines Flight 11 at 8:46 a.m.

The irregular pattern of the pavers beneath the steel represents the chaos and destruction of that day. Rust stains marking the ground serve as symbolic tears of the fallen towers. The steel is elevated 13.5 inches (343 millimeters) to honor the 343 firefighters of the Fire Department of New York who lost their lives responding to the attacks. In the years since, many more responders have died from illnesses related to their work at Ground Zero, including 409 additional FDNY members as of September 2025.

Nearby, the sphere fountain honors the bravery of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, who knowingly gave their lives to

prevent further loss of life on the ground. Their actions remain a defining example of courage and selflessness. Inlaid in the floor is a brass star symbolizing the five branches of the United States military

that responded, honoring all who have served, particularly those who deployed in the years following September 11 as part of the long lasting global response to terrorism. As with first responders, all gave some, and some gave all.

The 9/11 Memorial’s design inspiration was taken from this image of the tower wall standing in the background and the sphere in the foreground.