The 9/11 Memorial and Museum are two of New York’s most beloved and emotionally moving attractions. If you’re planning on visiting the city, I’d definitely recommend adding both of these to your itinerary.
Wondering when these two sites are open? With the anniversary of September 11th approaching, it’s the perfect time of year to make a visit to these landmarks. However, I think you should visit the museum and memorial no matter when you visit New York City.
With the September 11th anniversary on the horizon, it’s important to know that the hours at the museum and memorial are adjusted, so you don’t show up at the wrong time and expect to have a typical day at Ground Zero. This guide has all of the information you need about openings, closures, hours, anniversary events and rules of conduct. Keep reading to ensure that you’re prepared when it comes to planning your visit.
The 9/11 Memorial: What to expect
The 9/11 Memorial is made up of two one-acre pools set in the former footprint of both the North and South Tower. Each pool has a waterfall that drops 30 feet down and then pours into a second opening, dropping another 20 feet to an unseen location.
The pool will never fill and it is impossible to see the bottom, representing the feeling of absence felt by so many people after the attacks.
Inscribed on the bronze parapets surrounding the pools are the names of the 2,977 victims of September 11th and the six victims of the 1993 bombing of the North Tower. The names are grouped based on their location the day of the attacks, but they are not listed alphabetically. Instead, friends, family, colleagues, flight crews and first responder units are placed beside one another in “meaningful adjacencies.”
The 9/11 Survivor Tree and Memorial Glade
Also standing in the memorial is the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree recovered in the wreckage of the towers and brought back to health. Today, it stands beside the South Pool as a symbol of strength and resilience.
Behind the tree is the Memorial Glade. In the years since 9/11, thousands of people have passed due to sickness or toxin exposure related to the attacks. This memorial is dedicated to those people as well as the many recovery and rescue workers who risked their health in order to help the city.
The Memorial Glade pathway features six stone monoliths, embedded with World Trade Center steel remnants.
Is the 9/11 Memorial open on 9/11?
Every year, the 9/11 Memorial is closed to the public on September 11 until 3 p.m. That time is reserved for the anniversary tribute to the victims, a ceremony only open to family members.
During this time, you may not be able to get near the 9/11 Memorial, and you might even see some of the roads surrounding the area blocked off. During the ceremony on the 20th anniversary, roads and sidewalks were mostly inaccessible for several blocks surrounding the memorial for most of the day. There will also be heightened security in the area, so you should anticipate seeing extra NYPD on the premises, as well as plaza security if you plan to make your visit on this day.
From 3 p.m. until closing, the memorial is reopened to the public for the Tribute in Light, which all are welcome to attend.
The Tribute in Light is a moving spectacle, shining two giant beams of light into the darkness. Each beam reaches up to four miles in the sky and can be seen from a 60-mile radius around Manhattan. This represents the images of the Twin Towers, part of the World Trade Center that collapsed during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Local tip: If you’re wondering where the lights actually come from, they shine from the top of a parking deck a few blocks away — they’re not actually at Ground Zero!
When is the 9/11 Memorial usually open?
The memorial is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. After 8 p.m., the plaza area is roped off and guests are not permitted near the water for safety reasons. Security keeps watch of the plaza after hours, so don’t try to go past the ropes — you will get caught! Even on holidays, the memorial is open. The only day it closes is September 11.
That being said, sometimes the plaza will close unexpectedly during weather events or under extenuating circumstances. For example, when New York was under dense fog as a result of the Canadian wildfire in June 2023 and it wasn’t safe to breathe the air in the city, the plaza closed. The plaza may also adjust hours as needed, but visitors can always find those updates on the 9/11 Memorial website.
Local tip: I’ve seen the plaza close earlier during the winter months when it gets dark earlier (sundown can be as early as 4:30 on those short winter days), but staff insists that winter hours will remain 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. this season.
Visiting the 9/11 Museum
Located underneath the memorial, the 9/11 Museum is an in-depth examination and re-telling of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. When you’re paying your respects at the 9/11 Memorial, a stop by the adjacent museum is a great way to add context to your visit.
Various exhibits describe the impact of 9/11 and its continued significance in American history. You’ll hear very personal and intimate accounts of the attacks and see artifacts and remnants recovered from the Ground Zero site. Walking through the museum takes you on a deep dive into the 102 minutes that changed New York City forever.
Is the 9/11 Museum open on September 11th?
The museum is closed to the public all day on September 11. Only family members are permitted inside.
The day before, September 10, the museum will close early (usually around 3 or 4 p.m.) to host a Community Evening and prepare for the anniversary.
Guide tip: If you’d like to visit the museum for the 9/11 anniversary, I recommend going the morning of Sept. 10 and then returning on Sept. 11 to view the Tribute in Light spectacle at the nearby memorial.
When is the 9/11 Museum open?
The 9/11 Museum is open every day of the week except for Tuesday. Recently the museum added a few Tuesdays to the slate, though. You can find them all on the museum’s website. The hours for the museum are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., but the last entry is at 5:30 p.m. to ensure that you have enough time to see everything. These hours should be standard year round, but they’re always subject to change. It never hurts to double check the hours before your visit.
The museum observes some major holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it is closed on those days. It is also closed to the general public on September 11 every year.
How much are tickets for the 9/11 Museum?
Ticket prices for the 9/11 Museum vary, but adults aged 18-64 can expect to pay $33 if you purchase online. Kids aged 7-12 cost $21, teens aged 13-17 cost $27, seniors aged 65 and older cost $27, college students with valid ID cost $27, and kids under age 6 are free.
There are discounts available for military veterans and FDNY/NYPD/PAPD with ID. Active and retired military get in free. New York residents can also get into the museum for free on the first Monday of each month. You can buy your ticket online and show your ID for validation. It’s for time slots starting at 5:30 p.m.
Family members of those who were killed in the 9/11 attacks, including those who died from related illnesses and injuries, as well as rescue and recovery workers who are part of the 9/11 registry get in free at all times with a reservation.
Entry to the memorial is always free and open to the public. You can come and go as you please as it’s fully accessible on the plaza. In fact, it’s a great place to sit and relax, especially when the weather is nice.
Museum tickets are also included with our tour as an optional add-on. We recommend it because you can visit the memorial first where our local guide will share the context and stories of that day, preparing you for your self-guided tour of the museum. Our memorial and museum tour is $84 for adults and includes both the Ground Zero tour and your timed-entry ticket to the 9/11 Museum.
Local tip: Liberty Park, which is an elevated park next to the 9/11 Memorial, offers a great viewpoint of the reflecting pools (and another pleasant place to sit and reflect). It’s also where you’ll find The Sphere, a sculpture that survived the 9/11 disaster.
Is One World Observatory open on September 11th?
One World Observatory, the observation deck inside One World Trade Center, is open for normal hours on September 11. Hours for the observatory change seasonally, but they are typically 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. However, it is strongly recommended that you book your tickets for the observatory well in advance rather than buying them when you get there, as the attraction does sell out and there is a limited capacity for each time slot.
What you can do, if you want to be in the area for September 11, is go to One World Observatory early in the day and get your gorgeous views while the Ground Zero plaza is closed to the public, have lunch, and then head to the 9/11 Memorial after 3 p.m. once the September 11 ceremony has wrapped up.
We also offer tours that include entrance to the observatory so you get everything packaged together.
How to visit Ground Zero
There is no other event in New York City history with an impact as big as September 11. But to really understand just how emotional and significant the day is, you have to hear from the people who experienced it firsthand.
The best way to visit Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial is to go with a local. All of our guides for our tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum were here in New York during the attacks. Each one has their own personal account of 9/11, a unique perspective different from anyone else in the world.
Their stories — whether that includes hearing about it for the first time, watching it happen, or managing the chaos that ensued throughout the remainder of the day — will bring you face to face with the reality of that morning.
The memorial and museum are compelling for anyone who visits, but talking with someone who experienced 9/11 personally adds a layer of depth and meaning to your 9/11 Memorial and Museum experience. Who better to learn from than those who lived it?
Beyond the personal anecdotes, you’ll hear about the aftermath of the attacks, the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, how we recovered as a city, and the meaning these monuments hold for the rest of the country so many years later.
All of our tours include a guided walk through Ground Zero and the memorial, but there’s more to see if you have time. You can add on the 9/11 Museum or the One World Observatory or both, if you choose.
What to see nearby
If you miss your chance to get a ticket to the museum or visit the memorial, there’s plenty of other places to see in Lower Manhattan. The Financial District is full of historical and famous sites and you can easily walk to any of them.
Here are some of your options:
- The New York Stock Exchange
- Federal Hall
- Battery Park for views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- The Charging Bull
Even within the World Trade Center there are fun things to do. Explore The Oculus and follow the tunnel going underneath the memorial to Brookfield Place: a food court and shopping mall.
Right next to the memorial is One World Trade Center, otherwise known as Freedom Tower. The top of the building houses the One World Observatory, an indoor observation deck with breathtaking views of downtown and the Hudson River. You can easily squeeze in some time for the observatory along with a visit to the memorial and museum.
A perfect time to visit
No matter when you come to New York, the city is ready and waiting to welcome you.
In the case of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, September is the most emotional time to pay a visit. Seeing the memorial in person reminds us that we’ve been through tough times before and have come out stronger and more resilient on the other side.
If you can’t make it to New York in September, though, come any time. And make sure to stop by Ground Zero and pay your respects at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It’s one of the most precious landmarks the city has to offer.
