| Prior to September 11, 2001, the 16-acre | | | | oak trees, each void will feature rings of |
| World Trade Center site was one of New York | | | | cascading water falling into illuminated |
| City's most familiar landmarks. Following the | | | | reflecting pools. The names of the victims in |
| tragedy, workers spent months clearing the | | | | New York City, Washington, D.C., and |
| debris and remains of those who died in the | | | | Pennsylvania, as well as the February 1993 |
| attacks. On May 30, 2002, the last remaining | | | | WTC bombing, will be inscribed around the |
| piece of structural steel, which had come | | | | memorial waterfalls. |
| from the South Tower, was ceremoniously | | | | |
| draped with the U.S. flag and carried out. | | | | A state-of-the-art museum will offer student |
| This piece of steel has been recycled as the | | | | group travelers the opportunity to enhance |
| bow of the new assault ship, USS New York. In | | | | their experience. Visits will begin at an |
| addition, Honeybee Robotics incorporated | | | | entry pavilion, as students encounter both |
| steel debris from the site into cable shields | | | | the enormity of the loss and the triumph of |
| built for the Mars Exploration Rover mission. | | | | the human spirit that are at the heart of 9 |
| | | | 11. Students will also be able to view a |
| The main developer of the new World Trade | | | | section of the massive slurry wall that held |
| Center site, Larry Silverstein, heads the | | | | back the Hudson River during the attacks. |
| group of visionary leaders committed to the | | | | Construction on the memorial and museum began |
| redevelopment of the World Trade Center site. | | | | in March 2006. The memorial is scheduled to |
| Plans include six acres of space, five new | | | | open Sept. 11, 2009, with the museum opening |
| skyscrapers, the National September 11 | | | | to follow in 2010. To date, the September 11 |
| Memorial and Museum, a retail complex, and a | | | | Memorial and Museum has raised more than $300 |
| performing arts center. When completed they | | | | million of its $350 million goal. |
| believe it will create a more vibrant future | | | | |
| for downtown New York with superior | | | | In addition to the Memorial Museum, the |
| commercialized space, a more convenient | | | | cultural component of the new World Trade |
| transportation system, and a highly | | | | Center will include a 1,000-seat performing |
| commemorative destination for people who | | | | arts center at the northwest corner of Fulton |
| live, work, and visit the area. | | | | and Greenwich Streets. The modern-dance |
| | | | focused Joyce Theater will be the sole |
| By 2012, completion of the five World Trade | | | | occupant of the center. Although the theater |
| Center office towers will mark a major | | | | will have the performing arts focus, the |
| milestone in the project. Together, with the | | | | building may occasionally used for non-dance |
| recently opened 7 World Trade Center to the | | | | events, such as the Tribeca Film Festival, |
| north of the site and the rising Goldman | | | | which takes place each spring. Construction |
| Sachs global headquarters to the west in | | | | for the project will not begin until 2010 or |
| Battery City Park, the downtown skyline will | | | | 2011. |
| feature no fewer than seven new corporate | | | | |
| towers comprising 14 million square feet of | | | | The retail area, occupying 500,000 square |
| office space. An architectural landmark for | | | | feet, will be interspersed throughout the |
| New York City, 1 World Trade Center, the | | | | site, stretching from as far as the new |
| Freedom Tower, will soar 1,776 feet, symbolic | | | | Fulton Street Transit Center to the World |
| of the year 1776, when the Declaration of | | | | Financial Center. Developed by the Port |
| Independence was signed. The Freedom Tower | | | | Authority of New York and New Jersey, with |
| will become the tallest building in the | | | | support from Silverstein Properties, the |
| United States and include office space, an | | | | retail space is expected to be completed by |
| observation deck, world-class restaurants, | | | | 2012. When completed, the site will be one of |
| and more. The tower is scheduled to open in | | | | the largest business districts in the United |
| 2011. | | | | States. |
| | | | |
| The National September 11 Memorial and Museum | | | | More than 5.6 million visitors traveled to |
| will serve as a moving and important memorial | | | | Lower Manhattan in 2006. They came to visit |
| to the 2,979 people who perished in the 9/11 | | | | the World Trade Center site and to reflect on |
| attacks. It will also serve as a poignant | | | | the tragic events of September 11, 2001. |
| learning experience for student group | | | | According to the Downtown Alliance, the |
| travelers. The memorial's design, Reflecting | | | | downtown business improvement district, |
| Absence, will consist of two voids on the | | | | that's only half of those expected to head |
| footprints of the original Twin Towers. | | | | downtown once the National September 11 |
| Surrounded by a landscaped plaza filled with | | | | Memorial and Museum opens in 2010. |