Ground Zero - NYC
 

I am considering a trip to pay my respects at the site of the World Trade Centers.<BR><BR>Does any one know how close you can get to the actual site? Or if there is a rememberance area people can go to?<BR><BR>thanks for any info and God Bless America.<BR><BR>my heart goes out to all the victims...

A few weeks ago I could get within a block. BE WARNED. Definitely wear a mask. I didn't and my throat was burning for 24hrs afterward, and I just didnt feel too well overall. Serious toxic air down there, and I was only there for 2hrs. And I live in NY so I'm used to crappy air, but this is a completely different ballgame. They won't even know until perhaps much later exactly what kind of damage has been done to people's health from breathing that stuff.

Hi Kate,I just got back today from New York City.I went to the WTC site. You can pritty much see ground zero from the sections open to the public.There are lot's of memorials along the sidewalk where you can leave a note or flowers.It's a tragic event that has touched all our lives.God bless the victims and their families.

You really should avoid going too close for the smell has a distinct organic smell to it which made me rather sad. Try not to take any pictures out of respect. Bye!

Is it considered in bad taste to go to Ground Zero? I certainly don't want to go there for kicks. I need closure to this thing. As alot of people do, I'm sure. Also, is anyone taking pictures?

CM,Alot of people were taking pictures of the site and some even brought Video cameras with them.<BR>Bringing a camera of any kind would not have felt right to me.Everybody has different feelings on the subject.

Taking pictures here is not about how you fee about it. It is really about good taste and respect. You are going to a grave yard, I don't care if it is a historical graveyard. Would you photograph a graveyard openly? I think the video/camera totters really don?t get the enormity of the loss here. Want to be part of history , volunteer in one of the kitchens feeding rescue workers. Remember it is not about how you feel holding a camera it is a simple matter of respect. IF YOUR MOTHER ,BROTHER, SISTER, SON, DAUGHTER WERE IN THERE WOULD YOU WANT HORDS OF LOOSERS SHOOTING PICTURES!!!

I disagree with GGG. I do not think it's disrespectful to photograph the remains of the world trade center. It is not something that I plan on doing, but I can understand wanting to document it with your own photographs.

Not sure where your looking soapbox Annie...I was just watching NYC local news an inquiry for kitchen help at Bouley Bakery. The Show told viewers to go to dailycandy.com for more info on working as a volunteer.

Instead of taking pictures at the site, which I believe is disrespectful, I suggest you visit the "Here is New York" photography exhibit at 116 Prince St. It's a very moving and overwhelming experience. The photos there all relate to the Sept. 11th events and have been donated by both professional and amateur photographers. They are for sale for $25 each, with all proceeds going to the Children's Aid Society WTC Relief Fund. More info at: www.hereisnewyork.com.

Oops. Wrong website address. Should be:<BR><BR>www.hereisnewyork.org

Thanks Carolec another alternative is the NYC Fireman's museum on Spring Street between Varick and Houston. I was just there this weekend. They said WTC photo exhibits were cropping up all over Soho so just take a stroll. They seem to think Prince street was closing down but were not sure. Make your way as I did from the firehouse to Magnolia bakery a short cab ride away and oh so glorious cup cakes, cakes.

SEP.11,01 CHANGED EVERYONE BUT I THINK WE SHOULD GO ON WITH OUR LIVES AND BE CAREFUL WHO WE TALK TO AND WHAT GOES ON AROUND US. I PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES.

Didn't mean to get a battle going. Was only asking because I lost 2 friends in the attack there at WTC. Our friends down here ask that I get some pics so they can see it just like I saw it. It might help us deal with this a little better. But, maybe not. Again, I'm sorry for creating a monster.

We lost people also CM in Biloxi there is no shortage of photos on this site.

The Mayor of NYC or I should say former Mayor has asked that individuals refrain from photos. Many survivor family members are going to the Prince street exhibit for photos. I doubt you will see survivors snapping photos of the wreckage.

I live about 100 miles from NYC, and have considered visiting ground zero but decided that it's just plain bad taste (for me) to go there out of sheer curiosity.<BR><BR>There's just something that doesn't feel right about visiting the site, unless you're there to somehow help.<BR><BR>As I said, this is just how I happen to feel, and maybe someday I'll visit the site, the way people visit Pearl Harbor. But not now or in the near future.

As a NYC resident and volunteer at Pier 94 (helps families of victims, as well as displaced workers and residents), I have been down to Ground Zero. <BR><BR>If you do go down there, please go and remember why you are there -- to pay respects, to thank the firemen, policemen and rescue workers, and to recognize the tremendous tragedy that has occurred in our city. Both times I have been down there, I have seen incredibly insensitive tourists laughing, talking loudly, posing for pictures with their NYPD souvenir hats and broadly smiling.<BR><BR>Everyone has different ways of coping with tragedy. If you think that your way of coping will infringe on other people, please think twice before going down there. Kate, this is not directed to you, or anyone here in particular. I just ask you to spread the word.<BR><BR>

FYI - No amateur photography is allowed near ground zero as per the mayor of america, rudy - going to view/bearwitness/seee the site (as close as they allow you to get that is) is allowed

?can't believe people need to be told it is in poor taste to photograph. I also find it hard to believe that survivor friends would want to mark a tragic loss with a close up personally taken snap shop.

This argument is ridiculous. WHat is disgusting is people SELLING cameras down there, which they are, at ludicrously high prices I might add.<BR><BR>Taking pics is a matter of choice. I live here, so if someone is going to attack the place I live I feel I have every right to go see the damage. I chose not to take pics bc i'll remember it in my mind w.out needing a photo, however if others want to, so be it, who cares?<BR><BR>I will say though that if i had been in one of those towers and managed to escape, I would DEFINITELY want to take a pic of the wreckage, as reminder what I narrowly escaped and more importantly a reminder that all the crap I was worried about and squawbling about (like the people on this thread) matters little in the big picture.

I think EVERYBODY has a right to pay their respects in any way they see fit!!

Hello all. I don't want to add fuel to the fire but.... I think it is unfortuante that some people think it is disrespectful for an amateur to snap a picture but not for a professional to take one and then donate the money. Most,if not all amateurs will not make 1 cent from the pics. If photographers<BR>(amateurs and others) did not document history then we would not have<BR>history books with any pictures. We would say to our children when they are in high school "It was a really big explosion" but they won't get the full impression like they would with a picture. We need to document things. How would we know what Hitler or Bin Laden looked like without pictures? If people go there with ignorance in their heart - to try to make a buck or not take what happened seriously - then they have to live with themselves. People phothgraphed the Jews in concentration camps - an abbhoration that we can feel in our bones because we have the images in our minds to go along with the story. Not disrepectful. History. And what is the<BR>big deal with buying a FDNY souvenir hat?? New Yorkers should be glad people are spending their money on that instead of an Arizona Diamondbacks hat! People want to show their respect. Why is it ok for Guiliani to wear an FDNY hat and not some tourist who came to New York to spend money there?? Because we don't live there? The tragedy was in THEIR town so they OWN it and we are not allowed to feel anything or grieve in the same way they might? I will be coming to New York City in 2 days. I am coming to attend a benefit concert for the WTC Attacks. I will come with a fistful of money to spend. I will buy an FDNY hat and wear it proudly. But I will also be bringing my camera. I can only speak for myself - but if all you see is a tourist taking snapshots - maybe YOU are not seeing the whole picture.

Kate or CM or whomever:<BR><BR>The WTC site is not a graveyard. It is the site of an attack in which several thousand people are buried within the wreckage of a building. It will not be anybodys final resting place. As we speak bulldozers are removing everything in their path -- building or body. Of course the site deserves the utmost respect, but if you want to take a picture, take a picture and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about doing it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with photographing what is surely the darkest day in American history for your own benefit.<BR><BR>Also be sure to check out the www.hereisnewyork.com website and even visit the display while you're here. But at the end of the day, if they can take photos, why can't you?<BR><BR><BR>

that is right listen to x and don't respect the wishes of people who have lost, live in the area etc....You just do as your sweet little heart (what there is of it) feels like.

Sarah, dear, no one has a monopoly on suffering. I too know people who died on September 11 but I'm certainly not going to step on anyone's toes and try to tell them how they should or should not grieve.

no you are happy stepping on people's toes right here. I doubt you are being honest in your loss you would not be approaching the post this way. GROW UP

I just don't get it. Haven't you all seen about enough of this tragedy? You can't open a magazine, newspaper, or televised newscast without seeing this disaster replayed over and over again. I am absolutely sick to death from all of this. To want MORE rememberance photos, why on earth? You can get amazing quality, professional shots by buying the end of year TIME or some other such publication. I cannot believe that there is any other reason for someone to go about snapping pictures of the site other than that they want to document or (and if the shoe fits..)prove that they were there. Slam if you will, but at least admit your real reasons for the photos. Paying respects is one thing. Showing off painfully sad photos around the water cooler is quite another.

If your family was just in a terrible car accident and they are dead and still trapped in the car, how would you feel if a lot of people stood around the car and took pictures? Most people know this without having it spelled out to them.The Mayor had to threaten to have cameras confiscated if sightseers were caught snapping away, while people are still risking their lives, digging remains of people out of that pile..If anyone wants to pay respect to these people, send money or volunteer for the families.Show respect by not standing there and gawking.

TTT

Help me here. I am continually perplexed by people who argue that it's their "right" to do something, so everyone else should shut up about it.<BR><BR>What do "rights" have to do with any of this. Maybe it's the irony of ironies to discuss good taste on a Fodor's forum but, good heavens, do some of you "rights" types have no concept of what the term means?

No, I don't claim to OWN the tragedy just because I live here, just because I worked at WTC, just because I was there on that day and saw the horror and the suffering and managed to get out with my life, by the grace of God. I WISH that I could give some of it to you. I wish with all my heart that I could take some of this burden that I bear and share it with you. Maybe then you would understand why rescue workers, victims and their families alike ask you to show respect and not snap pictures like it is some kind of freakin' side show.

It's funny, we were just in the city Saturday with our kids and a few people asked me if we went to ground zero. It didn't even occur to me to go there. We just had no desire. My husband commutes in usually to Union Square or midtown about 3 times a week and he too has no desire to go there. I guess because he has so many friends with offices overlooking the scene who can't even stand to be there and are seriously looking to move their offices.

Curious-maybe it is because you and your husband do not consider this the latest tourist attraction/side show for the entertainment of out of towners?<BR>Lisa, I wish someone could help lift the burden of sadness from you just a little, although doesn't knowing that you are not alone with this sadness help ? There are plenty of people out here, with broken hearts over what has happened, and is still happening there..God Bless you and all of us.

I cannot understand why anyone would want to go down there!! I live in the Bronx, work in midtown and maybe it's just because I am here now and was here on Sept. 11 but I just don't get it.<BR>

I guess you have to be a certain type to get it, happily , I don't get it either.