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The September 11, 2001 date was forever marked in the history of the United States and the world. That morning, 19 members of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial planes. Two of them were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, causing the collapse of both buildings; a third plane struck the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers tried to regain control of the aircraft.
The attacks claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people and left thousands injured. In addition to the human tragedy, the attacks transformed U.S. foreign policy, airport security, and immigration and travel processes that remain in effect to this day.
In 2026, marking 25 years since that date, thousands of visitors flock to New York to visit Ground Zero, the site where the Twin Towers once stood and which today houses the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, one of the most important memorial spaces in the United States.
What is Ground Zero?
Ground Zero is the name given to the area of the former World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. After the attacks, the site was the scene of rescue, recovery, and reconstruction efforts. It is currently part of the renovated World Trade Center complex and is one of the most visited tourist spots in New York.
9/11 Memorial: free admission
The 9/11 Memorial is located exactly in the space that the North and South Towers occupied. The site consists of two enormous square pools with artificial waterfalls, surrounded by bronze panels where the names of the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing are inscribed.
Visiting the memorial is completely free. It is open every day from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, so anyone can visit without needing to reserve tickets.
In addition to the reflecting pools, visitors can see the so-called Survivor Tree, a pear tree that survived the attacks and became a symbol of resilience and hope for New York City.
9/11 Memorial Museum: updated prices for 2026
Those who wish to delve deeper into the history of the attacks can visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum, located under the memorial plaza in the World Trade Center complex.
The museum is open from Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with the last entry at 5:30 PM.
Tickets have the following prices:
- Adultos de 18 a 64 años: 36 dólares.
- Jóvenes de 13 a 17 años: 30 dólares.
- Niños de 7 a 12 años: 24 dólares.
- Menores de 6 años: entrada gratuita con boleto.
The museum is also included in some New York tourist passes, such as CityPASS and other city attraction packages.
What to see inside the museum?
The museum occupies more than 110,000 square feet of exhibition space and uses interactive technology, testimonies, audiovisual archives, and objects recovered after the attacks to tell the story of 9/11.
Among the most prominent exhibits is Skywalkers, a collection of photographs dedicated to the workers who participated in the original construction of the World Trade Center, as well as the rescuers and individuals involved in the recovery and reconstruction of the area.
Another of the most important exhibits is the Historical Exhibition, which chronologically reconstructs the events of September 11 through videos, photographs, audio recordings, testimonies, and original artifacts. The exhibition also explains the background of Al-Qaeda and the consequences of the attacks in the United States and the rest of the world.
For its part, the Memorial Exhibition pays tribute to the 2,983 victims of the 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Through photographs and interactive screens, visitors can learn the personal stories of those who lost their lives.
Also standing out is Witness at Ground Zero, a striking collection by French photographer Stephane Sednaoui, who documented the events from a building on Great Jones Street. The exhibition gathers hundreds of images captured during and after the attacks.
A quarter of a century after 9/11, Ground Zero has become one of the most symbolic places in New York. While the memorial offers a free space for reflection and tribute, the museum allows for an understanding of the human, political, and historical impact of the attacks that changed the United States and the world forever.
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