Obviously this should be on everyone's must do list when visiting NYC in my opinion. Those of us who witnessed the events on TV as they unfolded (I was living in the UK at the time) the images of that horrendous day will be permanently seared into our memories and those images still have the power to shock and pain us. Since it is now 20 years since they happened, there will be many who were not alive then or who were too young to witness it in 2001.
I have long wanted to visit the site and it doesn't disappoint. The memorial pools are peacefully and tastefully placed on the footprint on the towers. It's really sobering to see what 3000 people's names look like and how many that is when you see it. Inside the museum itself this is further brought home by their pictures on the wall of remembrance - just so many. I love that the memorial places a single yellow rose in the name (they are cut into the metal that surrounds the pools) on their birthdate. To see this makes it even more poignant.
The museum itself is below ground, in the basement of the towers in effect and one can see the footprint again, outlined by the piles that anchored them to the bedrock. They have been left in place, although cut to the ground, and they frame the museum superbly. Every exhibit is placed around them. It is a very large space as a result. The exhibits tell the story of course and there are artifacts aplenty including destroyed firetrucks, a section of the TV antenna from one of the towers and perhaps most poignant, some of the possessions of those murdered that day including the first responders.
It's a lot to take in frankly and yes, very sad but a fitting memorial. When we went it was busy but on the side away from the entrance there are automatic ticket machines and we were able to buy a ticket for entering 20 minutes later. This is worth checking out as it avoids the need to stand in line at the ticket desk at the entrance. Right now you have to prove you are fully vaccinated and or course, mask up but the experience is highly recommended and you will be there several hours if you take in the museum, as you should.