9/11 Ground Zero Tour in NYC

The 9/11 Ground Zero Tour in New York City is the best way to get an insider’s view of what actually happened on that tragic day in American history. Visitors can take the 9/11 Ground Zero Tour by itself or combine it with the 9/11 Museum and/or *Freedom Tower.


The 90-minute tour is guided by someone that actually lived and worked in the area when the 9/11 attack happened. The tour guide will give a detailed account of what happened before, during and after the event and includes stops at the following:

• St. Paul’s Chapel: Known as “The Little Chapel that Stood,” this Episcopal chapel, built in 1766, was not damaged in the 9/11 attacks, while buildings around it collapsed. It became a central hub for rescue works and volunteers to find rest and relief after the attacks. It was also used as a lost-and-found center when people started hanging photos of those they were looking for around the chain-link fence of the church. Today there is a small memorial in the back of the church with items from 9/11, such as stuffed animals, posters of those missing, and photos of those lost.

• Firefighter’s 9/11 Memorial Wall:This bronze sculpture mural commemorates 343 members of the NYC Fire Department, as well as volunteer firefighter, who lost their lives during 9/11. It is a touching tribute that depicts the scene on 9/11.

• 9/11 Memorial: The memorial is a way of remembering the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the Twin Towers and is located on the same site where the buildings collapsed. There are two square concrete spaces with waterfalls flowing over the edges into reflecting pools with another smaller square space with waterfalls going into it. The space is surrounded by low walls made of bronze with the names of those lost inscribed.The names are cut into the wall so that visitors can create rubbings of the names. On the person’s birthdate, a white rose is placed next to their name.

• Oculus: Both a transportation hub and shopping center, this architectural masterpiece features the Vierendeel Truss (that looks like a dinosaur’s backbone), which supports the mezzanine roof and the northeast corner of the World Trade Center Memorial.

The tour is the most insightful, comprehensive tour that provides an in-depth experience as to the magnitude of the tragedy, as well as the resiliency of New Yorkers.

To book a tour, go to https://911groundzero.com.

*Side-note: If you visit the One World Trade Center, look straight up. From afar, the building looks square at the top, but when standing at the base, it appears as a triangle or arrow pointing towards the heavens.

Images provided by 9/11 Ground Zero Tour.

Disclosure: The tour was provided by 9/11 Ground Zero Tour in order to do my review, but all opinions are my own. I did not receive any monetary compensation from 9/11 Ground Tour, nor will I receive any additional payment from tours book as a result of this review.

Read about other attractions from Family Travel Channel.