A visit to the 9/11 memorial

I still remember looking at the clear blue sky over Sydney Harbour from our apartment in Wolloomoolloo on that fateful and imagining the terror that New York was facing. 

It was also a beautiful day in NY, with a cloudless blue sky as the backdrop for an event that changed people's lives and the world. 

Today, on our trip to New York, A and I spent a few hours visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum and its surrounds. We booked a tour which was hosted with tact and respect by Meredith. She was able to explain to us on the 1 hour tour the events of that day and the importance of some of the artefacts preserved in the collection. 

When we arrived, it was snowing outside over the Memorial pool. 

We first entered the Hall where we were awed by the original slurry wall that was part of the Twin Towers. 

This wall is punctuated by tie backs that helped support the original structure. 

This is the last column to be removed from the site and formed a makeshift memorial at the time. 

It's important to remember that many people were saved by the valiant efforts of the first responders.  Around 15000 people escaped. Some of them used this staircase which led to Vesey Street. 

This beautiful artwork tried to capture thousands of different shades of blue- referring to the gorgeous cloudless sky of that day. 

These granite walls reference the original footprint of the towers.  Having visited them in 1991, I can tell you they were huge.  

You can see some remnants of the supporting steel. 

The exhibition had a vast collection of personal artefacts both large and small, including this crushed fire truck and twisted metal.  

The central hall houses two exhibitions- a memorial to the victims as well as a explanation of the events- both before and after.  You could not take photos in these areas, but the collection is vast and personal at the same time. 

I would recommend a visit of around 4 hours. It is truly worth it. 

After our visit, the weather had brightened so we spent some time looking at the memorial. After our visit we started to recognise some of the names of the people who lost their lives and their personal stories. 

The Millennium tower is beautiful. 

The top of the new transport hub. 

The tickets for the Museum can be booked around 3 months before your visit at www.911memorial.org