Gain a deeper understanding of 9/11 on this walking tour of Ground Zero with a certified guide who has a personal connection with the events of that fateful day. Be captivated by first-hand stories as you explore the site of the former World Trade Center and enter the National 9/11 Memorial, where you can pay tribute to the lives lost. You'll also explore Manhattan’s Financial District, visiting places like Wall Street and Federal Hall, the site of New York's first terrorist attack in September of 1920.
Meet in Lower Manhattan and begin with a walking tour of the Financial District, where you’ll visit sites like historic Federal Hall, the New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street and St Paul Chapel, which served as a makeshift rescue center during the terrorist attacks.
Visit the Steel Beam Cross, a symbol of hope for the city, and stop by the American Express Eleven Tears Memorial and the World Financial Center. Then, follow your guide to Ground Zero, where you’ll gain an understanding of the tragic events of 9/11.
As you explore the site where the World Trade Center once stood, you’ll be captivated by real first-hand stories of 9/11 from your guide, who has a personal connection with that fateful day in New York City. Your guide was a survivor, an employee in the Twin Towers or someone who engaged in the recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Finally, get the complete 9/11 experience as you enter the National 9/11 Memorial, where you can pay your respects to those who lost their lives. Timed admission to the 9/11 Memorial is included and your tour guide will accompany you into the site, built in honor of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The names of every victim of the attack are inscribed in panels alongside twin reflecting pools, which are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America.You'll have until 6pm to explore the memorial on your own.
Ground Zero Walking Tour is located in the Financial District neighborhood of Manhattan. The financial hub of the United States, the seat of New York City government, and home to some of New York's oldest buildings, the Financial District has an illustrious history. 17th century settlers began building here, and given the many seafarers of the time, boats could be conveniently docked at one of the slips right near the settlements of wooden homes. Right nearby, in the heart of the district is Federal Hall, where George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States in 1789, also the meeting site for the First Congress. New York City was both the capital of the United States and New York State at the time. The street names reflect the district's fascinating history: Fulton Street, named after Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat; Maiden Lane, originally called Magde Platje in Dutch; Beaver Street, recalling the once-significant beaver pelt trade, etc. The area today houses some great economic powerhouses, including the headquarters of major banks, the New York Stock Exchange, in addition to the World Financial Center. Contrasts are extraordinary, from old two- and three-story old brick buildings near South Street Seaport to the nearby modern mega-skyscrapers. Some of the numerous other attractions include Fraunces Tavern, where George Washington bid farewell to his troops (also, they have a museum!); the newly-landscaped City Hall Park; the Museum of the American Indian and the US Custom House at Bowling Green; Trinity Church, the first parish church in New York City and the resting place of Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton, among others; War Of 1812 strong hold Castle Clinton; the Staten Island-bound South Ferry; Battery Park; and the Federal Reserve Bank. Sadly, the biggest attraction since 9/11 has been the former World Trade Center site, although, thankfully, construction has finally filled the long-standing gouge in Lower Manhattan's face, and the stunning 9/11 Memorial and its attendant museum are welcome signs of a healing city. And, of course, soaring a symbolic 1,776 feet over the memorial is the new 1 World Trade Center!