Ground Zero
 

Are there still memorials along the fences around Ground Zero?

There is one memorial facing Cortlandt Street across from Century 21. Avoid the disgusting, dreadful vendors hawking their wares.

I was in NYC not too long ago and paid tribute at the church across the street as I was in the neighborhood and felt it would be disrespectful to not at least acknowledge what had happened there. I was appalled at what people thought was appropriate behavior, acting as if it were some sort of tourist spot.

No along the fence there are no longer any memorials, and the rules posted there say not to leave flowers, notes or any other materials by the fence.

There IS a memorial that you can visit and leave flowers or a note in Battery Park. If you had seen the World Trade Center there was a beautiful world sculpture in the center of the plaza that survived the impact of the buildings falling. It was damaged of course and it is now in Battery Park. There is also an eternal flame there and is the offical memorial site now until the Freedom Tower is built and a permanent memorial built.

St. Paul's Chapel is also a good place to stop and pay respects. IT is where the workers stopped to rest and eat and sleep for WEEKS. There are many pictures and banners and words of hope and caring from people worldwide.

Isn't the area facing Cortlandt St. where all the names are listed considered a memorial??

I too was disgusted by all of the vendors. I walked through that building every day for 10 years (long time ago) and when we visited the ground zero site, I was appalled at the selling of pocketbooks and stuff. Just gross.

St. Vincents hospital in the West VIllage (7th av and 12th st), has a "Wall of Hope and Remembrance". This wall contains some of the original 'missing' posters that were posted all of the city, especially in the lower parts of Manhattan after 9/11. Across from the hospital there's a fence with another makeshift memorial. The posters are very moving. They were made up by family and/or friends, with photos and some with short bios. I think similar displays may be at St. Paul's church.

There is also a very moving tribute to the victims and emergency workers inside the Intrepid Air Sea Space Museum. Some of the original missing posters are there as well as 3 uniforms worn that day by various emergency personnel. They also preserved some of the rubble left from the fallen towers as well as a piece of the fusilage from one of the aircrafts. Very moving.

Gee, Atilla, I had no idea that was in the Intrepid and I live here! Thank you so much for posting that information -- I'm going to get over there this Friday and have a look.

michelleNYC, I was surprised to find it in there also. The Intrepid was used as a "home base" for military personnel in the days immediately following 9/11, so that is part of the reason that they preserved as much as they did. There are other items that I did not mention also, but I will let you discover those for yourself.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! :D I have passed this on to friends and colleagues who were also very surprised.

THAT is the beauty of Fodors.
:-)

Also the FDNY museum has a memorial type display. This museum is located a few blocks form the actual site.

I would also like to suggest a very moving audio CD walking tour called Courage. A Pilgrim's Walk of Ground Zero which is available at www.courage911.org. Proceeds go to a 9-11 non-profit. It is written and narrated by an American history scholar who was there on 9-11 and helped start the recovery effort at St. Paul's Chapel next to the site. You hear stories of the recovery in the voices of the workers along a six-stop mile-long walk around the site. It is deeply respectful and uplifting. Too bad it is not yet carried by any shops around the site, but you can order it online before you go. The stories are combined with beautiful music as well.

I would also like to thank everyone for this great information. I'm bringing my nephew to NY at the end of the month and I'm sure he will want to visit the memorial in Battery Park. He was very young when it happened but he was very affected by it. We were already planning on visiting the Intrepid so this will be a bonus.