911 Memorial Museum and the One World Observatory

September 4, 2021 · by Dano · in New York

Another hot and steamy day in Manhattan. Temps are forecasted to be around the mid-90s with sweltering humidity. Can’t understand why there aren’t more tourists here. Oh well, our gain, or loss depending on how far we walk today.

Since we’re in upper Manhattan and have caught on to this subway thing, we’re going to take the subway down to the financial district, about 15 minutes, then hop off and tour Wall Street, the 911 National Museum, and then head back up to Mid-town for an early afternoon dinner on 46^th Ave, restaurant row. But first, we need to get tickets for the subway and find the right train.

Buying a one-trip ticket on the subway is a reasonable $3. The hard part is finding a machine that will connect to the internet and accept our credit card. We’ve tried several times, over the last few days, to buy a ticket, only to have our payment determined to be “unreadable”. Frustrating to say the least because no one there can sell you a ticket. Best they can do is point you to another machine. Who the hell thought this system up?

Got our tickets, surprising, now off to Wall Street.

Subway tunnel- relatively clean for a subway.

Tile art

Onward to the Charging Bull! Located in Bowling Green, the Charging Bull has become the symbol of the American Stock Exchange and capitalism. Not always appreciated by those who are of a more liberal persuasion, the Bull has been targeted by activists and protesters as a symbol of inequity and the overwhelming power of finance.

The Charging Bull is a bronze sculpture made by the artist Arturo Di Modica back in the late 1980s in response to the market crash that occurred in 1987 called, “Black Monday”. Now Art, seeing opportunity in despair, decide it would be fun to place his new sculpture in front of the American Stock Exchange building to signify his appreciation for being accepted as an immigrant into the United States. Not to mention it would also bring enormous attention to his art work.

So, on December 15, 1989, Art a few buddies drove the bull over and dropped it off at the Exchange building. And, stayed around to pass out leaflets of Art’s other art work to those admiring the bull. Those who didn’t admire the bull were the NYPD. They removed the sculpture and placed it in the impound yard with other works of art left on NY streets.

Soon there was an outcry of people in the community that believed the sculpture had a place in the financial district, but not the other pieces of art in the impound yard. They prevailed and the bull was relocated to Bowling Green looking up Broadway. That’s where it’s been ever since.

Thousands of people travel each day to the site just to see the “Charging Bull” and have their picture taken rubbing it’s nose, horns and even it’s brass balls! Apparently, rubbing a bull’s balls brings you good luck, if you live to talk about it. We passed so I’m expecting financial ruin sometime soon.

Everyone smile…

Lonely Bull

Next stop, the 911 National Museum. This museum is located on a section of ground that was where the original twin towers were located. The museum is only open Thursday through Monday so that’s the reason we’re back here today. If you don’t have a Sightseeing Pass, entry will cost you $26 per adult, but I’ll tell you now, it’s worth every penny. The museum is absolutely one of the best we’ve seen. If you are interested in the story of the people who were victims, who survived or who came to their aid, this is the place.

Everyone knows this story. Most everyone can tell you where they were or what they were doing when they heard the news that terrorists had attacked the US. The museum adds incredible details to the events of that day. We, like many others, came away with a more personal attachment to those affected by this cowardly act. Here are a few photos from the museum. Photography is limited to specific areas.

Communications antennas

Ladder truck #3

Final Beam with organizations and lost lives numbered

Other side of Final Beam

Dedication pedestal from 1970s

Artist’s depiction of the sky color on Sept.11,2001

Comms tower base

Internal “I” beams from South Tower

Next stop, the One World Observatory located in the One World Trade Center. With 104 floors rising 1,776 feet, the One World trade Center and Observatory is a must when in Manhattan. (Actually, the building only has 94 real floors but the top floor is officially designated as #104. No idea why.) The observation deck is located on the 102 floor, 1,250 ft above the street! This is the tallest building in the United States and the Western Hemisphere. Yes, taller than the Empire State Building, sorry?

Construction started on One World Trade Center in 2006 after the terrorist attacks on the original World trade Centers. In eight years, the first tower, One World Trade Center (or Freedom Tower as it was known back then) opened its doors for business. The Observation Deck opened a year later. The Trade Center Complex plan calls for 4 additional high-rise office buildings where the Twin Towers once stood. Numerous safety measures were incorporated into the build of the new tower. Cost is a measly $38 to visit the observation deck.