By Sarah Roebuck
Across the United States, September 11 memorials have been created to honor the lives lost, the bravery displayed and the resilience shown in the face of one of the darkest days in our nation’s history. Each memorial tells a unique story, offering a place for communities to gather, mourn and remember.
Below is a list of 10 memorials from coast to coast, each serving as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of that fateful day.
1. National September 11 Memorial & Museum — New York City
Each year, millions visit the 9/11 Memorial in New York City to pay their respects and learn about the tragic events of September 11, 2001. There are several exhibits inside the museum that tell the story of 9/11 through artifacts, imagery, personal stories and more, according to the museum’s website. Outside of the museum at the World Trade Center site is a memorial that includes twin reflecting pools set in the footprints of the original Twin Towers.
“The 9/11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance, honoring the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing on February 26, 1993,” the memorial’s website states.
Flags are placed on a memorial during a ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012.
Chang W. Lee/AP
FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2013, file photo, Charlotte Newman, 8, visits the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York.
Mark Lennihan/AP
FILE - Members of the Fire Department of New York take time to reflect during memorial observances on the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014.
Andrew Burton/AP
The National September 11 Museum is seen beyond the North Pool in the Memorial, Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 in New York.
Mary Altaffer/AP
Volunteer firefighters from the EnterpriseHose Company in Hatboro, Pa. take wall etchings from the September 11 Memorial during the 12th anniversary commemoration of the terrorist attacks. From left are Lt. Carlos Santiago, Capt. Alex Avallon and Assistant Engineer Eric Robertson.
David Handschuh/AP
2. Pentagon Memorial — Arlington, Va.
The Pentagon Memorial honors the 184 lives lost at the Pentagon and aboard American Airlines Flight 77. The memorial features illuminated benches arranged by the victims’ ages.
The memorial was designed by Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman, whose plan was chosen from over 1,100 submissions by a panel of family members, architects and public officials, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
3. Flight 93 National Memorial— Shanksville, Pa.
The Flight 93 National Memorial stands at the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked on its way to Washington, D.C.
Passengers and crew heroically fought back, forcing the terrorists to crash the plane in a Pennsylvania field, saving countless lives at the cost of their own, according to the National Park Service.
4. LAFD 9/11 Memorial— Los Angeles
This memorial honors the New York first responders who died in the attacks. The memorial features a 23-ton steel column, standing approximately 22 feet tall, that was originally a part of the World Trade Center’s lobby structure. It is on display at the LAFD Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in Elysian Park.
5. 9/11 Fallen Heroes Memorial — Tampa, Fla.
Unveiled in 2014, the 9/11 Fallen Heroes Memorial pays permanent tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The memorial features a beam recovered from the remains of World Trade Center Tower 2, she sheriff’s office said. The memorial also includes a lifelike sculpture titled “Fearless Champions” by Becky Ault, which honors the first responders and survivors of that tragic day. The sidewalk below the memorial reads, “We Will Never Forget.”
6. To Struggle Against World Terrorism (The Tear of Grief)— Bayonne, N.J.
A 10-story sculpture honoring the victims of September 11 is located in New Jersey with a direct view of Lower Manhattan.
The memorial, gifted by Russia in 2006, stands as a symbol of international solidarity against terrorism, according to Visit Hudson. The massive teardrop suspended between two jagged edges serves as a powerful reminder of the heartache caused by such acts. For those positioned just right, the memorial creates an illusion of the Twin Towers rising across the river in Manhattan.
7. Postcards Memorial— Staten Island, N.Y.
The Postcards Memorial honors the 274 Staten Island residents who died on 9/11, with two large wing-like structures framing the Manhattan skyline.
Dedicated on the third anniversary of the attack in 2004, the memorial was designed by architect Masayuki Sono, who won a design competition in early 2003, according to Staten Island September 11 Memorial website. The memorial features two fiberglass structures resembling postcards, symbolizing messages to lost loved ones. Each victim is honored with a profile silhouette on a granite plaque that lists their name, birth date, and workplace at the time of the attack.
8. Empty Sky Memorial — Jersey City, N.J.
The “Empty Sky,” memorial honors the 749 people with ties to New Jersey who lost their lives at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, according to Visit New Jersey.
The memorial, designed by Jessica Jamroz and Frederic Schwartz, features two brushed stainless steel walls, each 210 feet long and 30 feet high, with the victims’ names engraved for hand rubbing. The memorial was dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.
9. Moving Memories Memorial— Phoenix
A dynamic memorial that uses sunlight to cast shadows in a timeline, commemorating the events of 9/11.
The state’s 9/11 Memorial Commission envisioned a space for dialogue and reflection, serving as a living tribute to our evolving understanding of that tragic day and its aftermath. In collaboration with coLAB studio, they developed the Arizona 9/11 Memorial, “Moving Memories,” which captures moments in time through the words that shaped the events as they unfolded, according to Jones Studio.
10. Reflect 9/11 Memorial Sculpture— Rosemead, Calif.
To honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, the City of Rosemead unveiled a sculpture called “Reflect.” The sculpture, created by artist Heath Satow, features a steel beam from the World Trade Center, according to the city’s website.