Visiting the attractions near the World Trade Center Memorial
Most visitors to New York City want to see the 911 Memorial at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, for obvious reasons. If you are asking what to see in Lower Manhattan here is an itinerary for a day of exploring around the World Trade Center neighborhood.
The World Trade Center, Brookfield Place and the Winter Garden at dusk. Photos by John O’Boyle / The Empty Nest Explorers
Visiting the Oculus and Brookfield Place
From the 911 Memorial site, look for the impressive “winged” building. This is the Oculus, the new transportation hub built on the site of the fallen World Trade Center towers. This magnificent structure is meant to represent the resilience and hopefulness of the city, portraying a winged bird leaving the hands of a young boy. In the face of any obstacle, hope still takes flight.
Enter at the base of the building, and take in the view of the immense, brilliant white structure with the “roof that flies”. Illuminated by skylights, it’s intended to give the visitor the same daylight they would experience if walking outside.
The long, central double skylight is oriented so that each year on September 11th at 8:46 am, the exact time when the first plane struck the twin towers in 2001, the sun shines through and washes the floor with a beam of light. This phenomenon lingers until 10:28 am, the time of the collapse of the second tower. It’s a fitting observation and remembrance, while still remaining somewhat subtle. At night, the structure is brilliantly lit like a lantern illuminating downtown, which I find particularly inspiring.
Over a million people a week transverse the Oculus, commuting via 12 subway lines and the World Trade Center PATH trains, or taking in some luxury shopping. The massive main floor also hosts many events over the year, including farmers’ markets, art exhibits, musical performances, and a festive holiday market in December that creates an enchanting scene.
More eating and shopping can be found at the connected Brookfield Place. You can get there underground, but it isn’t very well marked. We find it easier from outside - just cross West Street and you’ll see the Brookfield Place entrance. It opens up into the enormous, marble-floored Winter Garden atrium, with its soaring glass-domed ceiling and impressive views of the Hudson River and North Cove Marina.
You’ll find lots of eating options here. We like the upstairs food court for its slightly nicer-than-usual options for a grab & go experience. There are plenty of tables and seating areas to eat inside, or you can get your food to go and picnic outside on the waterfront, as there is ample seating to find a spot to watch the sunset or just enjoy the activity. Of course, you can opt for a finer dining experience at one of the many sit-down restaurants. Eat outside by the water if the weather is agreeable. It’s a lovely spot, especially on a breezy summer evening.
Battery Park and Staten Island Ferry
Walking along the waterfront to Battery Park on a beautiful day is a great NYC experience. (Honestly, I’ve enjoyed it in drizzly October weather as well). But first, take a little side trip one block north to see the Irish Hunger Memorial. Walk toward the river, facing Jersey City and hang a right. It’s just a quick walk to this striking outdoor garden structure, raised up on an architecturally interesting platform. More than 60 types of plants from Ireland are displayed in the garden, along with a recreated 19th-century cottage and rocks from all of the 32 counties of Ireland. Dedicated to raising awareness of the Irish famine of 1845-1852 which brought many Irish immigrants to America, there are poems, quotes, and famine statistics on the surrounding garden wall.
Now turn around and head south along the water along the Battery Park Esplanade. (FYI: if the water is on your right side, you are heading south. If it’s not, turn around! You’re heading the wrong way.) Enjoy the sights of the waterfront on the way to Battery Park. If you are interested, you can make a stop at the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. It’s a very unique building and site, but be warned, it is a sobering experience, so if you’ve already been to the 911 memorial and/or museum, it may be a lot for one day. (I actually never realized how many bummer museums and memorials are in this part of town until I started writing this.) They have some free hours on Thursdays between 4 pm and 8 pm, but you’ll have to reserve the ticket in advance, so check their website first for info.
Head into Battery Park for a lively scene at this harborside park and the best free boat ride in Manhattan, the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry terminal is located at the south end of the park. It’s really meant for commuters from Staten Island into Manhattan, but it just happens to offer great views of the Statue of Liberty, the skyline, and the harbor. Staten Island itself is mostly residential, so no reason to pay a tourist visit there, but you’ll have to get off the ferry and get back on as you won’t be allowed to just stay on for the return trip. Pro tip: the best views of the Statue of Liberty are on the ride from Manhattan to Staten Island. On the way back to Manhattan, the Statue is further away, so make sure you get outside to see it on the trip over to Staten Island. Also good to know - there is less outside seating than more tourist-oriented ferries.
A little gem in the park to my romantic eye is the SeaGlass Carousel, located right down the path from the State Street entrance. Described on Google Maps as “Aquatic-themed ride with iridescent fish” (c’mon, who couldn’t love that?), it’s a downright magical sight in this busy city park. Perhaps it’s a bit of tourist eye-candy, but I think it would make a lovely romantic date stop - well maybe not if it’s overrun with kids, but I’ve never seen it overly busy. At $5.50 a ride, it doesn’t seem too bad an indulgence.
Do grab an ice cream in Battery Park. Why? Because it’s what I used to do when I worked as a messenger in the area back in my college days and I needed to kill a little time before going back to the office! But if you don’t have time to kill and need to call it a day at this point, you can easily catch 1 Train at the South Ferry subway station, right next to where you exit the ferry terminal. But if you are still on board for more exploration, take a walk up Broadway.
Broadway and the New York Stock Exchange
Exit the park on the corner where State Street and Broadway come together, near Bowling Green station, and walk up Broadway. You'll quickly come across the Charging Bull, a very popular bronze statue and financial icon that’s become an attraction. People line up to take selfies on either end of the bull - horns or rear if you know what I mean. So pick your end and do your Instagram thing if that makes you happy!
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I was kind of surprised to see street vendors popping up around the statue, selling miniatures of the bronzed bovine and other financial district souvenirs. I couldn’t help being reminded of Paris and the myriad of mini Eiffel Towers for sale. It does feel a bit “European” in this area in other ways as well, being one of the oldest areas of New York City. Its cobblestoned streets are narrow and spin off in random directions, unlike the tidy grid of uptown and other New York neighborhoods.
Broadway is well known as the “Canyon of Heroes”, the location of the famous New York ticker-tape parades. Originally it was actually “ticker tape” thrown down from the office buildings in the district to create the snowstorm of confetti, but today there is no more use of ticker tape, so all manner of paper will do! There are markers along the street commemorating all the parades that have taken place over the years, the first of which was a spontaneous celebration for the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886. So ticker-tape parades are truly a New York original, though many cities around the world adopted the tradition.
It’s fun to read the markers and see how many there have been and for whom. I tend to think of these parades for winning New York sports teams and returning astronauts, but there were actually some rather obscure ones - like the King of Ethiopia. I myself remember being at one for Pope John Paul II, around 1980 or so, when I worked in the area and just decided to talk a walk over and check out the scene. It was one of the most joyful celebrations I’ve ever experienced. People were just going crazy! And the piles and piles of paper on the ground were at least ankle-deep. John has also covered a number of them as a photojournalist, for the NY Yankees and NY Giants championship teams and loved the memorable experience as well. Reading the markers is a fun bit of New York trivia.
Keep walking up Broadway and hang a right at Wall Street, then another right on Broad Street to the home of the New York Stock Exchange. It isn’t open to the public, but just taking in the view of the classical revival building is impressive, with its marble facade of colonnades and relief carvings representing commerce and industry. It is designated a National Historic Landmark.
Don’t miss the Fearless Girl bronze statue that stands across the street, hands on hips, defiantly staring down the powers that be. She originally was placed in front of the Charging Bull, but was moved after the original permit expired and a case was made for the statue to remain as a symbol of gender equality and the global women’s movement. As you might guess, she’s become a popular attraction for photos as well.
John photographing the Fearless Girl Statue in front of the New York Stock Exchange
From here, you can walk back to Wall Street and Broadway to the Wall Street Station and take the 4 or 5 Train uptown if needed.
More attractions in the WTC area
Hope you enjoyed this little romp in downtown Manhattan! There are certainly more sites to add to the list in the area, including Trinity Church and Cemetery, another National Historic Landmark which is one of the oldest buildings in NYC and tied to the Revolutionary War.
And the World Observatory at One World Trade Center is an excellent observation deck experience. Being one of the tallest buildings in the world, the views of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New Jersey are expectedly spectacular but it’s the addition of a very well-done introduction and elevator ride that makes it top-notch.
One more tip, and it’s just a personal one – a favorite NYC coffee spot of mine is Grumpy Cafe on Stone Street and Broad. If you stop in, have a cup of whatever they are brewing that day, and remember to pick up a bag of Momentum beans - my favorite, as my son knows when Mother’s Day rolls around. ;)
On 9-11-01 John was a staff photographer at the Newark Star-Ledger and covered the attack on the World Trade Center extensively. Below are some of his photos.
Helpful Links:
Irish Hunger Memorial: https://www.nycgo.com/attractions/irish-hunger-memorial/
Seaglass Carousel: https://www.seaglasscarousel.nyc/
The Museum of Jewish Heritage: https://mjhnyc.org/
The Ongoing Saga of the Fearless Girl Statue: https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-ongoing-saga-of-the-fearless-girl-statue
Cafe Grumpy: https://cafegrumpy.com/coffee/
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