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9/11 Ground Zero | The Story of One World Trade Center
9/11 Memorial & MuseumGround Zero
- Inside
- Ground Zero
- Artifacts
- 9/11 Museum
- 9/11 Memorial
- Exhibits
- Memorial Glade
- Survivor Tree
- Photos
- Shopping
- Events
- Broadway
- Edge NYC
- Empire State Building
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Statue of Liberty
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- One World Observatory
- American Museum of Natural History
- Top of the Rock
- Intrepid Museum
- Guggenheim Museum
- Rockefeller Center
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Whitney Museum
- Central Park Zoo
- New York Historical Society
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
Contents
What is 9/11 Ground Zero?
The term “ground zero” is usually used to refer to the primary area of detonation in cases of nuclear explosions or devastation relating to the impact of bombs. In explosions taking place above the ground, this term refers to the point on the Earth’s surface directly under the detonation and is sometimes even called the “hypocenter”. After the devastating attacks at the World Trade Center in September 2001, the site surrounding the Twin Towers that was impacted by the plane crashes was named “Ground Zero”, or “The Pile” to refer to the rubble that was left in the wake of the terrorist attacks.
About 9/11 MuseumWhat is the Significance of 9/11 Ground Zero?
After the events of that fateful day, survivors and spectators alike started to refer to the area as Ground Zero. The name reinforced the gravity of the attacks and the impact they had on not just the people of New York, but of the entire world at large. However, as the 10th anniversary of the attacks drew near, the then Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, called for retiring the commonly used term and asked that the world at large acknowledge the site by its renewed identity, One World Trade Center.
9/11 Ground Zero - The Aftermath
First Volunteers and Responders at Ground Zero
Half of the New York City Fire Department was deployed to aid rescue efforts at the 9/11 Ground Zero after the attacks. Several off-duty firefighters and emergency medics joined the ranks with them. Although the different rescue units were initially disorganized and faced technical difficulties, they were able to put together a substantial search and rescue operation within mere hours of the attack.
Clearing the Debris
In order to organize the search for survivors and streamline the cleanup efforts at the 9/11 Ground Zero, the zone was divided into four sections, each headed by a different chief. Most of the rubble and debris from Ground Zero were trucked out. Surrounding buildings that had sustained damage due to falling debris, were reinforced with mesh to prevent further injuries and damage. Although it was estimated that the cleanup process would take around a year, the collective efforts found fruition in May 2002 when Ground Zero was finally cleared.
Mission to Rebuild
Just days after the 9/11 attacks, while Ground Zero was still a smoldering pile of rubble and debris, President George Bush paid a visit to the site. In the hopes to rebuild the shaken morale of the rescue workers and volunteers striving to look for remaining survivors and cleaning up Ground Zero, President Bush delivered a solemn speech to reassure the people that they would heal, and rebuild the World Trade Center as a “symbol of America’s resolve”, coming back stronger from this tragic event.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Part of the plan for rebuilding Ground Zero and returning it to its former state of the World Trade Center site, involved the construction of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum were built to document the impact of the 9/11 attacks and the continuing significance of those harrowing events for survivors today.
The 9/11 Museum honors those who were killed at the site of Ground Zero in 2001, in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center. The museum employs media, surviving narratives, and a collection of artifacts from Ground Zero, to offer visitors a glimpse into the magnitude and scale of this harrowing event. This is a rare opportunity to intimately experience these personal stories of recovery, loss, and hope.
Visit 9/11 Memorial MuseumThe 9/11 Memorial honors every soul that was lost on the fateful day with their names inscribed on the parapets of the two largest man-made waterfalls in America. There are 2983 names carved into the memorial. The 9/11 Memorial pools were designed by Michael Arad and Peter Walker with the concept Reflecting Absence to symbolize the void and loss of life left in the wake of the devastating attacks.
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Frequently Asked Questions About 9/11 Ground Zero
Q. What is 9/11 Ground Zero?
A. After the 9/11 attacks, the debris left behind was referred to as “the Pile” or “Ground Zero”.
Q. What is the significance of 9/11 Ground Zero?
A. After survivors and spectators started to refer to the rubble as Ground Zero, it reinforced the gravity of the devastation left in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
Q. What is the 9/11 Ground Zero called today?
A. As the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approached, Mayor Michael Bloomberg decided to rename 9/11 Ground Zero as One World Trade Center and has been known the same to this day.
Q. Can I visit 9/11 Ground Zero?
A. Yes, you can definitely visit the 9/11 Ground Zero. The 9/11 Memorial, where Ground Zero once stood, can be visited for free.
Q. Are there tours of 9/11 Ground Zero?
A. Yes, there are 9/11 Ground Zero tours available online. You can book your 9/11 Museum tickets here.
