Cortlandt Street Subway Station: Access the 9/11 Memorial and new World Trade Center

(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

If using the subway to visit the World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial, take the R train to the Cortlandt Street Subway Station. The station sustained damage during the collapse of the World Trade Center. On the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, the station was fully operational with both north and southbound trains running.

After spending most of the late morning visiting the 9/11 Memorial it time to head back uptown to have some lunch and then to a Wednesday Broadway matinee performance. The big question at the moment...where to eat.

(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Open the 9/11 Memorial: The Visit (Part 2)

Panoramic views of the 9/11 Memorial. Click on the image for a larger view.
(photos: TheHopefulTraveler)

This post continues with more pictures from my visit to the 9/11 Memorial. See the previous post for Part 1 or click HERE.

SURVIVOR TREE & MEMORIAL PLAZA

All but one of the trees on the Memorial are swamp white oaks. The exception
is a Callery pear tree known as the "Survivor Tree." This tree was planted on
the original World Trade Center Plaza in the 1970s. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

After 9/11, workers found this tree, which was reduced to an eight-food stump,
in the wreckage at Ground Zero. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Branches of the Survivor Tree. The tree was nursed back to health in a New
York City park and grew to be 30 feet tall. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

In December 2010, the tree was returned to the WTC site. It embodies the
story of survival and resilience that is so important to the history of 9/11.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

When complete the plaza will include more than 400 swamp white
oak trees. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The trees were selected from nurseries within a 500-mile radius of
the three attack sites. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The plaza design conveys a spirit of hope and renewal and creates a
contemplative space separate from the usual sights and sounds of a
bustling metropolis. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The memorial covers eight-acres.  The trees bring green rebirth in the spring,
provide cooling shade in the summer and show seasonal color
 in the fall. (photo:TheHopefulTraveler)

The small clearing in the grove, known as the Memorial Glade, designates
a space for gatherings and special ceremonies. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

WORLD TRADE CENTER OFFICE TOWERS

At 1,776, One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) will be the tallest building
 in the United States and include 2.6 million square feet of office space,
an observation deck, world-class restaurants and broadcast and antennae
facilities. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

A World Trade Center tower dwarfs the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Construction continues for several new towers around the eight-acre memorial.
Above 5 World Trade Center replaces the former Deutsche Bank Building site,
rising higher than its neighboring buildings. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

3 World Trade Center construction continues. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

9/11 MEMORIAL MUSEUM

The memorial museum is not yet opened. But peek through the glass-and-
steel pavilion and see a portion of one of the WTC tridents (forked columns
from the original facade of the North Tower). Just one of the many
authentic artifacts that will be exhibited in the museum. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

9/11 MEMORIAL VISITOR CENTER

The visitor center is located near the 9/11 Memorial at 90 West Street (Corner
of Albany Street). Admission is free. Open 365 days a year. Daily 10am-
8pm (times may vary during off-peak season). Keepsakes and mementoes are
available at the center.  (photo:TheHopefulTraveler)

Genuine artifacts and rotating exhibits are on view in the center. Approximately
1.8 million tons of material was removed from Ground Zero. Some 1500 pieces
of structural steel was saved including this piece on display.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The recovered wallet, identification card, and ring of Robert Joseph Gschaar:
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Robert Gschaar (Mar 8, 1946-Sept 11, 2001) presented a $2 bill to Myrta Alvarado when he asked her to marry him. Describing their romance as a second chance for two people who had been married before, he placed a second symbolic $2 bill in his own wallet. One September 11, 2001, Robert was on the 92nd floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center where he had recently begun a new job as an insurance underwriter at Aon Corporation. He spoke with Myrta on the telephone after the first plane hit and said he was evacuating, and would call her back later. She never heard from him again. When the NYPD's World Trade Center Property Recovery Unit notified Myrta that Robert's wallet had been found, Myrta felt the $2 bill inside yielded the proof she needed to accept her husband's death.

Open the 9/11 Memorial: The Visit (Part 1)

One of the twin reflecting pools. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The Memorial Plaza (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

After much delay the 9/11 Memorial finally opened last fall. The events of 2001 was over a decade ago but still remains in the memory like it was yesterday. Visiting the sparkling new memorial rekindles the feeling of sadness and awe. A place to ponder and reflect on our past, present and future in this world but more importantly to commemorate the survivors and those who perished on September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993.

This is my visit to the 9/11 Memorial. There are three main elements at the memorial at this time: the dramatic twin reflecting pools; the plaza; and the One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower). Other buildings rise at the site but One World Trade Center dominates the complex at over 1,700 feet. The photos from my visit are separated into two posts. Click HERE for Part 2.

Map of the 9/11 Memorial Site. Click the diagram to view a larger version.

I booked my tickets online a week before my visit. The passes are free and printed online showing the name of the visitor and specific entry date and time. There is talk at some point about assessing an admission or service fee at some point in the future. Click HERE for passes.

Note that visitors are asked to show a valid photo ID matching the visitor pass name. The memorial entrance is located at the corner of Albany and Greenwich Streets. All visitors and baggage are subject to security screening. Visit 911memorial.org for more information. Hours: daily 10am-8pm; last entry at 7pm. Note that closing hours will vary according to the season. The 9/11 Museum is still under construction with an opening date still to be announced.

THE VISITOR ENTRANCE

As the 9/11 Memorial is still under construction, a temporary fence
directs visitors to the entrance. When the World Trade Center is fully
rebuilt, there will be entrances on all sides. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Despite the timed passes, expect lines and a lengthy walk around part of
the memorial and then through security. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The lines move quickly with the only slow down at the security. Like going
through an airport all metal is removed from pockets. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Be sure you have your passes in hand and arrive at the correct time shown
on your pass. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

COMMEMORATIVE GUIDES (click HERE for the online version of the guide)

Download the commemorative 9/11 Memorial guide for those who have
booked their passes online; or pick one up after passing through security.
The guides are available in English, Chinese, French, German, Italian,
Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

SOUTH AND NORTH POOLS and BRONZE PARAPETS
(Click HERE to find a name on the Memorial)

A sign helps guides visitors to names at the memorial.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Most visitors converge at the South Pool which is nearest to the plaza
entrance. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The memorial opened on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler) 

The memorial consists of two pools set in the footprints of the original
Twin Towers. It's a consuming feeling of sight, sound and touch.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Thirty-foot waterfalls, the largest in North America, cascade into the
pools, each then descending into a center void. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The names of the victims are inscribed in bronze parapets around the pools.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The arrangement of the names is based on where the victims were on 9/11.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Pictures cannot capture the immense dimensions of each reflecting pool.
The victims commemorated as visitors walk around each
pool's perimeter. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The memorial design was selected through an international competition
that received over 5,000 submissions from 63 countries.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler) 

Along the perimeter of the South Pool are names of victims from: First
Responders, World Trade Center South,  Flight 93, Flight 77, Pentagon,
and Flight 175.
The North Pool: World Trade Center North, Flight 11
and 6 victims of attack on February 26, 1993. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The sun's reflection glimmers on the bronze parapet of the North Pool.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler) 

The pool's waterfall begin from reservoirs located beneath the bronze
parapets. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler) 

The bulk of the visitors converge on the South Pool since it is located
closest to the current memorial entrance. The crowds spread out around the
North Pool. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler).

The North Pool. Behind it is One World Trade Center.
  (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

At the northwest tip of the North Pool one can see the pavilion that
will house the 9/11 Museum. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

The open park-like portion of the plaza presently holds trees mostly
along memorial's west side. Ultimately trees will surround the entire memorial.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler) 

One of the massive voids at the center of each reflecting pool.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Seeing people on an opposite of the South Pool gives scale to the
size of the reflecting pool. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Some visitors bring etching materials for a bronze rubbing of a victim's name.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Visitors looking for a specific name should visit names.911memorial.org
for the exact location before arriving at the memorial. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

 Construction continues on the rebuilding of the World
Trade Center buildings around the memorial . (photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

See the next post for Part 2 and more photos or click HERE.