NYC's Sacred Ground: 9/11 Memorial Museum Experience

Visited with family. An experience that was very thought provoking and also very powerful. Well put together and respectful to the events.

This was a powerful experience that requires more than 2 hours if you want to give yourself the time to process the scale, impact, and implications of the 9/11 events. As such, I sadly ran out of time. I also developed a mild headache from being exposed to so many intense emotions, but this was important and everyone will be affected differenly. As a memorial, it was absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time, especially the Memorial Exhibition with the photos of the people we lost on that day. As a museum, it did a good job connecting visitors to the remaining architecture of the two towers, and used storytelling effectively. Logistically, though, there is room for improvement. Many reviewers mentioned the crowd, which is fair, but because everyone was appropriately respectful, the place felt very calm (and somber), too. I had a bigger issue with the navigation. There's no map on paper or that you can download on your phone (I asked), and I didn't see obvious signs showing what was happening where. The ticket desk and audio tour options were tucked away downstairs so, after you get through security on the main level, you kinda just wonder where to go next: up? down? There *is* signage, but they were either not located where they would have been more helpful, or you had to wait for the digital screen to cycle through its preprogrammed sequence. The staff were very nice, though. I just went and talked to them instead. Here's what I would do: - Get yourself a timed ticket for the top of the hour. That would allow you enough time to go through security, look around, maybe run a little late (I got there about 15 min after the hour)... Then start your visit with "Facing Crisis: America under Attack." It's a 15-minute movie that starts on the half-hour, and it's one floor up from where you come in. - When that's done, exit the auditorium and go right back in line to see the next movie, "Revealed: The Hunt for Osama bin Laden," which last 25 minutes. - Then you can head down to the lower level. I imagine that the $11 audio tour would be helpful. Continue the visit from the left side. - There will be small rooms throughout. Don't miss the Historical Exhibition. There's also another movie, "Boatlift," that's 12 minutes long. - After you exit the museum, spend time at the pools where the towers used to stand, and gather closing reflections.

A very moving memorial. So we'll thought out. Lots of volunteer staff to answer questions or direct you. It's got a lot to take in so plan a couple of hours.

This is worth going to. So much to see inside museum. Some beautiful tributes. I’m being honest by saying that going through this museum brings that tragic and sad day all back. But for the people that suffered they deserve to be remembered. A day that went down in history and so much to see, read and listen to that proves it. Tributes, donations, first responders, firemen, policeman and construction workers. America came together!

We recently visited the 9/11 memorial park and museum We had two personnel guides Marcus and Alex due to one of us being registered blind They were amazing Walking us through the museum at our pace and explaining so much about what we were seeing hearing and touching No words can ever express the feelings you have walking around the museum and hearing about what happened on that frightful day We then had as much time as we wanted to go around the museum again After the museum the two memorial pools are a must Even though it was very busy there was an air of reverence and respect I would certainly recommend visiting this memorial And once again a big thank you to Marcus and Alex

Wow what an experience, goose bumps, hair on arms bristling, very moving and pretty quiet considering the museum was super busy. Visitors were respectful and engrossed. Well organized with good access, 100% value visit. Crime of the century comes to mind. Watch One Day in America 9/11 before you go.

Must see. Very informative. Will visit again and will hire a private tour guide or pay for the ear phones

There is so much information to read. We were here almost 3 hours and still had to skip some sections. It is well-laid out and very respectable to those who lost their lives. We're from the UK but still felt quite emotional at times. The only negative is that some of the information plaques are in poorly lit areas and could do with a small lamp above them.

This is an excellent museum and something you must try to do if you are visiting New York City. It is a vast museum telling the story of the building, the events of 9/11 and the people who are effective. Some parts of the original building still exist, for example a stone staircase that a few people managed to escape down and some twisted metal girders. There is a very poignant section where you can learn about all of the people wo died on that day. A fascinating film tells the story of how half a million people were evacuated from lower Manhattan by water on one day. There is so much to see that you could spend many hours here.

Very moving, very somber, is a very spacious laid out museum, make sure you watch the 12 minute film of the various boaters who came and rescued survivors to take them to safety, very informative, third time I have visited museum and have taken in something new everytime