Visiting The 9/11 Museum With Kids: To Go Or Not To Go?

Covering the tragedy in great detail and thoughtfulness, the 9/11 Museum is a sobering yet important place to visit but may not be right for every family.

New York is one of my favorite family destinations as there are so many interesting things to see and do that you could easily spend weeks here before you exhausted all the possibilities.

But one activity I have been hesitant to do is visiting the 9/11 Museum with kids. Not because I don’t think it is an extremely important chapter in America’s history and one that deserves to be recognized and its victims remembered, but because I myself am unsure of how to explain something to them that I have difficulty explaining to myself.

The museum is incredibly well done with thousands of artifacts and so many personal stories of victims, survivors, rescue workers, New Yorkers, and people around the world. It can be a lot to take in and at its heart it is one of the most tragic episodes in American history so this is not a museum for every kid or every family. But I think it can be an important learning visit for a generation that doesn’t have the same visceral memories of 9/11 that older generations have.

6 Conclusions I Came To After Visiting The 9/11 Museum

1. The Museum is very well done, with so many artifacts from the day that really bring home the events in an immediate way.
2. There are a lot of sad stories told, obviously as this tragedy profoundly changed the course of so many lives and their families.
3. There was much to the historical build-up to the attacks that I was unaware of. I learned a great deal in the “Before 9/11” exhibits.
4. There is a reassuring theme of hope and remembrance throughout the museum that helped me deal with some of the more traumatizing sections.
5. The younger generation does not have as immediate a reaction to 9/11 as I do or any generation that watched the events on live television.
6. This would not be a museum I bring younger kids to but for middle school and high school kids, I would bring them unless I thought that it would be too traumatic for that particular kid.

Description Of The 9/11 Museum

The design of the museum takes you through the original foundations of the World Trade Center, with large pieces of steel and concrete punctuating your descent through the layers.

Most of the museum is a central open space containing Foundation Hall (because it has huge pieces of the original foundation) and Memorial Hall (which connects the two original footprints of the Twin Towers). Around these two halls are placed the two permanent exhibitions (Memorial and Historical), the temporary exhibits, and the theaters showing short documentary films.

Foundation and Memorial Hall effectively communicate the size of the buildings, something that will help children that never saw the Twin Towers in person, understand the scale of the destruction and wreckage.

The Historical Exhibit Has an Incredible Amount of Artifacts

The Historical Exhibition has thousands of artifacts, video footage, and audio recordings to piece together the events leading up to 9/11, the timeline of the day as it unfolded, and devastating aftermath, not only in New York City but as it touched the lives of people around the world.

You could spend hours looking at the pieces of rubble, watching the news reports, listening to people’s first hand accounts of the tragedy, and reading all the messages of hope and love sent to survivors, volunteers, and the people of New York from around the country and the world.

Kids will appreciate the vastness of the central halls and the large artifacts and art installations they hold. The destroyed fire engine, for instance, and the blue sky mosaic will probably make the biggest impression on them.

I recommend looking over their shoulder though while touring through the Historical Exhibit as some of the photos and videos might be too much for them to handle emotionally.

The Victims of 9/11 Have a Prominent Place in the Museum

The Memorial Exhibition in the museum is a room dedicated to all the victims of 9/11 and the earlier, 1993, bombing of the World Trade Center. It is a room full of photos, heartbreaking because these are all people that are no longer with us, but the overall effect is more pensive than weeping because so many of the pictures are of smiling faces. Family members chose to remember the victims in happier times.

You can learn more about the people behind the photographs by clicking on touchscreens around the room. Family members have shared more photographs and reflections for these profiles as well as even more in-depth profiles projected in a separate, inner room, accompanied by audio recordings.

The Memorial Exhibition was oddly one of my favorite parts of the museum. I took comfort in knowing none of these people would be forgotten. The kids clicked on some of the photos but were not as absorbed as I was. They are lucky that they have yet to experience real tragedy and so will not connect the pictures to a sense of loss personally.

This Was a Horrific Attack and the Museum Doesn’t Shy Away From That

During parts of the Historical Exhibition, I had to close my eyes for a moment and take a deep breath. Voice messages that victims left for family members and photographs of people jumping from the Twin Towers brought me to tears.

Important Note- The Museum gives you fair notice about the more graphic sections and allows people to avoid them, i.e. the photos of the jumpers are somewhat hidden from the rest of the exhibit by partitions that have a warning sign.

There is no sugar-coating the devastation of 9/11 and the human cost, both to victims and survivors, but also to their loved ones. I appreciated that the museum does not avoid covering any of the facts just because they are terrible, but this does mean that kids will have some hard questions for you afterwards.

Some of the images and items in the exhibit may traumatize younger children who can’t understand why anyone would do this. I am still having trouble with that myself but at least I can understand it intellectually, if not emotionally. Younger kids won’t have that ability to separate the two.

Understandably, no photography is allowed in the Memorial or Historical Exhibitions so I don’t have any photos to illustrate the exhibits. To get a better idea of what these two exhibits entail, peruse the Museum’s website or better yet, take the Virtual Tour.

I Learned A Great Deal At The 9/11 Museum That I Did Not Know Before

Particularly about the events leading up to 9/11, about Flight 93, and about the sheer size and complexity of the recovery. There was so much I didn’t know or realize.

I spent a lot of time reading the timeline detailing the hijackers’ movements in the days leading up to 9/11. It was all riveting, from their training at flight school in the US to the reconnaissance flights they took beforehand, and especially how one of the hijackers was arrested by the FBI a month ahead of time for suspicious activity at his flight school.

It is so easy in hindsight to see what should have been done differently, but it does make some of the security changes following 9/11 more understandable.

I also really appreciated the sections about Flight 93. I am in awe of the passengers on that flight—the courage they had to try and save others at the highest cost to themselves.

Listening to and reading the messages from the crew and passengers as they learned about the attacks on the Twin Towers, realized their fate, and decided to do something to change it, was one of my most lingering impressions of the museum.

Kids may be interested in the parts of the Historical Exhibit about the days before 9/11, especially seeing the pictures and models of the Twin Towers as it will help them understand why they were such an important symbol of New York and America.

I think much of the Historical Exhibit may be difficult for some kids to get much out of as there are hundreds of artifacts with small plaques explaining them, requiring a lot of reading.

But the amount of destruction and the size of the recovery and rebuild will be apparent just from walking among the displays and watching a few of the videos so even less patient readers will get an idea.

The Museum Has a Message of Hope and Remembrance Throughout

From the victims’ pictures in the Memorial Exhibit to the rescuers’ names scrawled on the giant “Last Column” in Foundation Hall, remembering is an integral part of the museum. But hope is also a huge part as well.

The part of the Historical Exhibition that deals with the days after 9/11 are filled with the stories of the multitudes of volunteers who gave donations, time, and spirit to help New York recover. It’s a nice reminder that the world is still full of good people.

By the imposing slurry wall in the Foundation Hall, you can write messages that will be projected as part of an art installation. I enjoyed watching my fellow museum-goers write and draw such messages of goodwill.

My Advice For Visiting The 9/11 Museum In NYC With Kids

I have no easy answers for you here. Like many things as a parent, visiting the 9/11 Museum will be an individual decision based on you and your child. How old they are, their ability to process something terrible without being traumatized, and their fondness for museums in general should all factor in your decision.

Some kids could maybe handle parts of it at age 8 or 9, while others will be distraught or making inappropriate jokes at 16. The Museum recommends only children 11 and older visit the Historical Exhibit where the most disturbing displays are located.

Expect to spend 1-2 hours visiting the museum. It can be emotionally draining so for some, an hour might be all they can handle.

Some Helpful Tips

Definitely Peruse The Official Website Beforehand

The website for the 9/11 Museum has a specific page for Youth and Families that has information on museum tours just for families, tips on talking to kids about 9/11, activities that they can do at home, and kid-friendly activities/ events that are schedule around the museum and the Memorial Plaza.

Remind Kids About Inside Voices And No Running

I will warn you that if you have a feisty kid, who is not good at “inside voice” or is always running to the next thing, then you will definitely feel out of place here.

More than any other museum (or even library) I can remember, the 9/11 Museum is quiet. It seems to be an understood general gesture to the lives lost rather than a direct mandate upon entering but regardless, it is a well followed guideline, at least when I have visited.

Visitors speak in hushed tones and everyone moves a little more slowly, giving time to read the exhibits and look at the faces of the victims.

Crowds Could Be A Problem

The other factor I would take into consideration is the crowds. I visited on 9/12 and thought it must have been so crowded due to the proximity to 9/11 but the guard assured me that it was actually very slow that day. I can’t imagine it being even more crowded and trying to keep up with a child.

It was hard to read some of the plaques or watch the videos due to the people gathered around them. The way the museum is set up is not conducive to large numbers of people being able to view the same exhibit cases simultaneously.

For another good, in depth review of the museum from an anthropologist’s point of view, take a look at this blog.

Ticket Information

Buy a ticket ahead of time. The lines for walk- ups was crazy long. You can buy a ticket up to 6 months ahead of time.

Tickets Prices

• Adults $33
• Seniors, college students (with ID), and young adults 13-17 – $27
• Veterans – $22
• Youth 7-12 – $21
• Kids 6 and under, active military – Free
• FDNY/NYPD/PAPD (with valid ID)- $16

* Tip: The Family Pass (2 adults, 3 kids 7-17) is $118 so that might be your best deal.

Aim for the first tickets of the day as you will be able to see much more of the exhibits without hordes of people around you. The lines for the theater showings will hopefully be much shorter as well. You can also pay extra to get in first thing in the morning.

We only had time for one showing as the lines were at least 20 minutes wait each. (We had tickets for 1pm, probably the busiest time of day. In hindsight we should have booked another time.)

If you do not book a ticket online before your visit, look for the automatic ticket machines in the wall of the museum facing Greenwich Street and the Oculus station. I was amazed to see so many people standing in line waiting when they could have walked around the corner to buy a ticket.

The museum has free admission Mondays from 530pm- 7pm. You still need to reserve a ticket (up to 4 tickets per person) and can do so starting at 7am morning of.

How To Get To The 9/11 Museum

Take the subway to the new, architecturally stunning Oculus, the transit hub for the new World Trade Center. It is a beautiful station, worth a visit in and of itself.

There are signs for the Museum and the 9/11 Memorial Plaza as you walk through the station. Just follow them and you will come out across the street from the museum.

Other Attractions Nearby The 9/11 Museum That Also Tie Into The Events

9/11 Memorial Plaza

Do spend time walking around the 9/11 Memorial directly outside the museum— it is a graceful and tranquil plaza containing trees, benches, and the two large waterfalls marking the original footprints of the Twin Towers.

Every victim’s name is inscribed around the waterfalls and the sheer size and sound of the water will leave a lasting impression.

Look for the Survivor’s Tree next to the South Pool of the Memorial. It is the pear tree with the metal guard rails around it. The tree was found in the rubble of the Twin Towers, badly broken and charred but nursed back to health by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. It appears to be doing very well now and has gorgeous blooms in the spring. Its renaissance makes me happy.

St. Paul’s Chapel

Walk one street over to St.Paul’s Chapel and take a look around the “little church that stood.” Despite being so close to the destruction, St.Paul’s managed to avoid damage, partly because a huge sycamore tree in the graveyard, which was toppled by the original blast, protected the church from ensuing flying debris.

This little church, founded in 1766, has seen so much of American history, from George Washington to now. After 9/11, it became a place of rest and comfort for the firefighters, rescue and recovery workers. Donations poured in as well as volunteers who came to cook and care for the workers, everybody from counselors to podiatrists. St. Paul’s remained a relief center for the workers at ground zero for 9 months.

I loved walking around the cemetery, where Revolutionary War veterans are buried. If only they could see NYC now!

And the Bell of Hope is very cool as well. It was a gift from St. Paul’s sister church in London and cast in the same foundry that cast the liberty Bell and Big Ben. The bell is rung on 9/11 every year and also periodically to commemorate other terrorist attacks in the world, such as the Mumbai bombings or the shootings in Norway.

Take a look inside the simple yet elegant church. The small Chapel of Remembrance is devoted to 9/11 and contains some pictures and items from the estimated 3,000 workers who came here.

The church and graveyard are open 830am-6pm. You will have to pass through a metal detector to enter the church. It is free but donations to the continued work of St. Paul’s is always appreciated.