These Architecturally-Significant Memorials Pay Tribute to 9/11 Victims

Under yesterday’s New York City blue skies—reminiscent of their color back in 2001—the country paid tribute to the thousands of lives lost on 9/11. Twenty years after the American attacks, we’re once again reminded of the power of patriotism.

Many cities, both in the U.S. and abroad, commissioned some of the world’s most renowned architects, artists, and landscape designers to create memorials to honor the victims, survivors, and first responders. All serve as impactful reminders of one of the most significant, albeit ill-fated, days in American history.

National September 11 Memorial, New York City

In April 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation launched an international design competition for a permanent 9/11 memorial. Of 5,201 entries received, Reflecting Absence, submitted by architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker, was selected the winner.  

Twin waterfall pools, each nearly an acre in size, descend into a square basin. Surrounding bronze parapets are inscribed with the names of victims from both the September 11 attacks and 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

More than 400 swamp white oak trees fill the Memorial plaza around the pools. There’s also a single Callery pear—known as the Survivor Tree—rescued from the original site.

Pentagon Memorial, Arlington, Virginia

The memorial, designed by Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman, incorporates illuminated cantilevered stainless-steel-and-granite benches—one for each of the 184 victims of the Pentagon attack. A shallow lighted pool of flowing water is positioned under each memorial bench. They’re arranged according to the victims’ ages, starting with Dana Falkenberg, age 3, to John Yamnicky Sr., age 71, in a landscaped 1.93-acre plot. 

In addition, an Age Wall rises from three to 71 inches, representing the ages of those who lost their lives.

Flight 93 National Memorial, Shanksville, Pennsylvania

This tribute is for the passengers and crew of the United Airlines Flight 93, one of four commercial airplanes hijacked. The memorial is the handiwork of Paul Murdoch Architects and Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects. Elements include a Memorial Plaza and walkway, visitor’s shelter, Wall of Names, and hemlock grove.

The Rising, Valhalla, New York

The monument—created to honor the residents of Westchester County who died on 9/11—sports 109 stainless-steel rods ascending from a circular granite base and joined together at the top. Designed by architect Frederic Schwartz, its namesake is the Bruce Springsteen song released in the attack’s aftermath.

Postcards, Staten Island, New York

Masayuki Sono’s poetic design consists of two soaring fiberglass structures symbolizing postcards to loved ones. Granite plaques commemorate Staten Island’s 275 victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Each Staten Island victim is honored with a 9-by-11-inch granite plaque bearing their name, birthdate, and place of work on Sept. 11, as well as their profile in silhouette.

Sono said he thought about how the simple message of a postcard captured the profound sense of absence “Where are you? How are you? We love you.” The idea of the memorial embodying messages, or love letters, took hold.

Empty Sky, Jersey City, New Jersey

Two stainless-steel walls—each the width of each side of the World Trade Center towers—border a granite path overlooking Ground Zero. Frederic Schwartz and Jessica Jamroz masterminded the project.

Boston Logan International Airport 9/11 Memorial

Designed by Boston-based Moskow Linn Architects, this large glass box sports panels inscribed with the names of passengers and crew lost on United Airlines Flight 175 and American Airlines Flight 11. Both took off from Boston’s Logan International Airport on September 11.

9/11 Living Memorial Plaza, Jerusalem

Artist Eliezer Weishoff’s 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza is located 20 miles outside Jerusalem. A 30-foot-tall sculpture features an American flag that transforms into a torch at the corner.

September 11 Memorial Garden, London

Three plaques pay tribute to the 67 British victims lost in the attacks. Set in Grosvenor Park, the September 11 Memorial Garden features an oak pergola planted with American and British plant species chosen for their September blooming time. Inscribed atop, “Grief is the price we pay for love.”