WTC Memorials

I know it took a long time for folks to decide what to do with the space where the WTC towers once stood in lower Manhattan. But, after our visit there recently, I would say it was definitely worth the wait.

We didn't even go into the museum, but found that with our limited time, just strolling around the plaza was a very moving experience. And one which left us with a profound appreciation for the care that was taken, and is being taken, with memorializing the tragic events of 9/11.

Part of the reason for such deep appreciation was the on-site sources of information about the meanings of various elements: regular signs, a handy and informative computer "handbook" (see on the left) as well as an enthusiastic and informative security guard (more about him in a minute).

I talked about the Oculus building last time; you can see it next to the museum in the background of the photo above. As I mentioned, it was designed to resemble a dove of peace.

But the most peaceful elements in the plaza are the enormous pools that occupy the footprints of the two towers. You can see a bit of the North Pool in the photo above. These are perhaps the most beautiful, appropriate, and moving water features I've ever seen. 

Of course the buildings were large, so these are impressively large spaces. But they are so impressively designed as well!

Perhaps the aspect of the features I found the most compelling is the "void" into which the water falls in the center of each pool...a unique and oddly both disquieting and comforting element...

You can learn more about these, and the other features of the plaza, at this website

We knew about the names etched around the borders of each pool, but had no idea of how carefully arranged they all were. As we learned from the computer "handbook," (and this was confirmed by the website referenced above), the names around each pool are specifically the people who died in each building. The South Pool includes names of those killed in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. Moreover, names are grouped together based on affiliations, both personal and work-related.

The most wonderful thing about the names though, is this:

When we first saw this flower, we assumed it was put there by a relative of the person named, as flowers and other memorabilia are often left at the Vietnam Memorial. But it's even more moving: the Museum puts a flower by names on the persons' birthdays. Is that not a lovely way of remembering these folks?!

Whereas this practice was explained by a sign, we were curious about some slabs of granite that were only labelled as the "Memorial Glade." Here is one of these sculptures:

Fortunately a helpful security guard was nearby and we asked about the area. As he told us (and you can learn at the website) this area was a late addition to the site. It recognizes the construction

workers and others that labored to clear the site, and suffered health problems as a consequence.

The metal bands that seem to encircle the granite are taken from the wreckage of the buildings. And the orientation of the slabs, at an angle, is designed to echo the ramp that lead down into the pit at Ground Zero, where many of those honored did their work.

You can see a bit more of the Glade, along with the retreating figure of our helpful guard, in the photo  above on the right. 

Across Liberty Street from the main memorial plaza is one more impressive memorial, of a kind. In addition to the Survivor Tree (which you can learn about here) it's the only object from the wreckage that is part of the Memorial area. Here's a look at it from the main plaza (note the red box):

And here's a closer view...

It's a large sculpture that was located in the WTC plaza, placed there in 1971, and called "The Sphere." According to a sign next to its present location, it was found in the rubble of the buildings and later donated as a memorial. 

Very photogenic...

...it's also a stark reminder of the violence of that morning's events. Not restored in any way, but looking like it did in the ruins of the towers, on the base the damage is particularly visible...

You can learn more about the sculpture, and see what it looked like before September 11, 2001, at the Wikipedia link above.

I heartily recommend a visit to the lower tip of Manhattan Island when you are in New York. I've become something of a connoisseur of memorials in my late adulthood, and this is one of the finest I have seen.