Twenty-five years on, this is the day the city stops. Seven moments of silence begin at 8:46 AM as victims' families read all 2,983 names on the Memorial plaza, and when the plaza reopens to everyone at 3 PM you can pay respects at the twin reflecting pools before the Tribute in Light beams switch on at dusk. It is the defining event of the weekend — solemn, communal, and unrepeatable at this scale.
What to expect
The morning name-reading ceremony (8:30 AM to about 1 PM) is reserved for victims' family members, with a public livestream at 911memorial.org/live. Once the plaza reopens in the afternoon, anyone can visit the reflecting pools and bronze name parapets, with heavy crowds, flowers laid in the engraved names, and a strong security presence. From dusk on Sep 11 until dawn on Sep 12, the Tribute in Light beams are visible across the city.
Good to know
- The morning ceremony is for victims' families only — the public watches via the livestream at 911memorial.org/live.
- The Memorial plaza is closed to the public until the afternoon (it has reopened around 3 PM in past years); the Museum is reserved for family members all day.
- Seven moments of silence are observed, the first at 8:46 AM — expect pauses and bell-ringing citywide.
- Tribute in Light shines dusk-to-dawn; Brooklyn Heights Promenade and downtown waterfronts are classic vantage points, and a live broadcast airs at 8 PM ET.
- Expect street closures and airport-style security around the World Trade Center site all day.
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Common questions
Can the public attend the name-reading ceremony?
No. The morning commemoration is private to family members of victims of the 2001 and 1993 attacks. The public can watch the livestream at 911memorial.org/live and pay tribute on the plaza when it reopens that afternoon.
Is the 9/11 Memorial Museum open on September 11?
The Museum is open solely to family members that day, beginning at 8 AM. The outdoor Memorial plaza reopens to the general public in the afternoon.
When does Tribute in Light appear?
The twin beams shine from dusk on September 11 until dawn on September 12, and a live 8 PM ET broadcast, '9/11 Tribute in Light: Live from Lower Manhattan,' accompanies the installation.
Does visiting cost anything?
No — the Memorial plaza is free and open to all once it reopens in the afternoon.
