Two massive reflecting pools mark the exact footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Water cascades 30 feet down into the voids, creating a powerful symbol of loss and renewal, while bronze panels inscribed with nearly 3,000 names honor every life lost.
The reflecting pools are the centerpiece of the 9/11 Memorial, each nearly one acre in size and set within the exact footprints of the original North and South Towers. The pools feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America, with water flowing down their walls and disappearing into a central void.
The bronze panels surrounding each pool are inscribed with the names of every person who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks and the February 26, 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The arrangement of names follows a system called "meaningful adjacency," placing individuals near colleagues, friends, and loved ones.
Architect Michael Arad's design, titled "Reflecting Absence," transforms the void left by destruction into a space for contemplation and remembrance. The continuous flow of water represents the renewal of life while honoring the absence of those lost.
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Each pool occupies the exact location where the Twin Towers stood, preserving the sacred ground and creating a direct connection to the original structures.
2,983 names are carefully arranged using "meaningful adjacency" to honor relationships and keep loved ones, colleagues, and friends together in remembrance.
The design transforms voids of loss into spaces of reflection, where visitors can contemplate the impact of the attacks and honor those who perished.
The perpetual flow of water symbolizes the ongoing cycle of life and renewal, even in the face of profound loss and grief.
Honor the memory of those lost on September 11th through guided tours of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Experience this sacred space with respect, understanding, and hope for the future.
Lower Manhattan, NY
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