The National September 11 monument opened to the public on Monday, a day after New York and the nation marked the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks. As the first visitors to the 9/11 memorial plaza, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, members of the city council and some 9/11 victims' family members welcomed. Especially, the memorial plaza opened its gates under tight, airport-style security so that visitors were forced to empty their pockets, go through a metal detector and send their bags through an X-ray machine. There are now two giant fountains and reflecting pools where the World Trade Center's twin towers once stood. There are about 7,000 people registering online for free tickets to visit on opening day, and 400,000 signing up for the coming months, according to the nonprofit organization that oversees the memorial.
National September 11 monument at New York City opened to the public on Monday, marking the first time visitors can step into the area of the World Trade Center after the deadly attacks in 2001. Mr. Bloomberg, also the 9/11 Memorial chairman stated: "The opening fulfills a promise we made to the families on the 10-year anniversary and keep it open for them and the rest of the world forever to reflect on what happened and to honor the 9/11 victims and heroes.” As visitors walked through a grove of oaks and traced their fingers over the names of the nearly 3,000 dead, they were deeply moved by the monument, whose centerpiece is two sunken pools ringed by bronze plaques.
Highlights of the Ground Zero Monument are two large lakes which formerly were the locations of the two 110-storey high towers of the World Trade Center
The visitors lined up to visit the memorial of terrorist attacks’ victims
Tickets to access the national museum for visitors
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (right) was present to welcome the first guests on the memorial opening day
Mr. Bloomberg shook hands with a visitor
Former Vice President Dick Cheney was one of the first tourists to visit the monument
This is the first time of the 10-year period visitors can step into this area
Earlier, on 11 September 2011, the monument was opened to the officials and relatives of victims to attend the 10th anniversary ceremony of the horrific terrorist attacks.
The fourth artificial Waterfall around the lakes
One white chrysanthemum flower was placed on the aluminum panel which engraved with the names of the terrorist attacks’ victims
A total of 3,000 names have been inscribed on 16 aluminum panels set around two lakes
Six victims who were killed in the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 also were engraved with their names
A flower and a American flag were placed on the names of the victims
Guests sit on the large stone grills
This area is also planted many trees, creating a cool space for National September 11 monument
The victim memorial also includes a national 11/ 9 museum but this work will be completed in 2012
In Pictures: National September 11 Monument Opens To Public
Related links:
Early Images of National September 11th Memorial and Museum
September 11 Terrorist Attacks: New York City Then and Now in Pictures
