Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL
September 11 and the new World Trade Center
Completed in 1973, the 110-storey Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were an in-
tegral part of New York's legendary skyline, a symbol of the city's social and economic
success. At 1368 and 1362 feet - over a quarter of a mile - the towers afforded mind-
blowing views and by 2001 they had become both a coveted workspace and a much-
loved tourist destination. However, on September 11, 2001, two hijacked planes crashed
into the towers just twenty minutes apart and all seven buildings of the complex eventu-
ally collapsed. Hundreds of firefighters, police officers and rescue workers were among
the 2749 people who lost their lives.
In 2003, Daniel Libeskind was named the overall designer for the new World Trade
Center, though his plans were initially plagued with controversy and he's had little sub-
sequent involvement with project. In 2006 a modified design, still incorporating Libes-
kind's original 1776ft-high Freedom Tower (now “One World Trade Center”), was fi-
nally accepted. Though financial disputes between the Port Authority and developer
Larry Silverstein have hindered progress, the tallest skyscraper in the US finally topped
out in 2012. By 2015, a restaurant and an enclosed observation deck should be open to
the public. The whole multi-billion dollar scheme, which also involves a Santiago
Calatrava-designed transportation hub and four subsidiary towers, should be complete by
2016.
TRIBUTE WTC VISITOR CENTER
120 Liberty St. Subway R to Cortland St; #1 to Rector St; #4, #5 to Fulton St. 212 393 9160,
www.tributewtc.org
.
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. $17 (tours $22).
MAP
Facing Ground Zero, the
Tribute WTC Visitor Center
commemorates the 9/11 attacks
with a moving exhibit about the day itself, embellished with video and taped accounts of
survivors. Items from the site make heart-rending symbols of the tragedy.
IRISH HUNGER MEMORIAL
290 Vesey St at North End Ave. Subway E to World Trade Center; #1, #2, #3 to Chambers St. Daily
8am-6.30pm. Free.
MAP
This sobering monument to the more than one million Irish people who starved to death dur-
ing the Great Famine of 1845-1852 was designed by artist Brian Tolle in 2002. He transpor-
ted an authentic famine-era stone cottage from County Mayo, and set it on a 25ft embank-
ment overlooking the Hudson River. The passageway underneath echoes with haunting Irish
folk songs, and there is a meandering path through the grassy garden.
