Ways to mark September 11 in NYC

The 9/11 Memorial Museum, located where the Twin Towers once stood, explores the history of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The museum houses artifacts, historical records, firefighting equipment and a memorial exhibition. 

While it's closed to visitors on September 11, it's open most days during the rest of the week. Adult general admission costs $36. Every Wednesday afternoon at 1pm, a bagpipe tribute honors those who died on 9/11 as well as those who are sick or who have died from exposure to hazards and toxins in the aftermath of 9/11. Bagpipers play near the Last Column and the 9/11 Memorial Glade.

Tribute in Light is a commemorative public art installation presented yearly from dusk to dawn on the night of September 11. It has become an iconic symbol that both honors those killed and celebrates the unbreakable spirit of New York. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum Plaza will open to the public for visitors to view the installation from the actual site of the attacks—though open hours have not yet been announced for this year.

Beams of blue light arranged in the shape of the Twin Towers are visible for 60 miles on a clear night. For the best views, head to Washington Square and Union Square parks in Manhattan, Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.

Here are 10 fascinating facts about Tribute in Light that you probably didn't know.

Choreographer Jacqulyn Buglisi returns to Lincoln Center for the annual Table of Silence Project 9/11, a free performance ritual and call to action for piece. More than 150 dancers will circle the iconic Revson Fountain to create an ancient Peace Labyrinth. The sounds of electric violin, flute, bass drums, trumpet, bells and a chorus will fill the air. 

"Together, through a timeless universal language of the body, we transcend all boundaries, recognizing the imperative for human connection and the miracle that is human existence," Buglisi previously said in a press release.

The event begins at 8am on Friday, September 11. It will also be livestreamed for those at home.

Every spring in New York City, millions of bright yellow daffodils emerge from the ground, the surest sign of sunnier days ahead. But in September, they pop up again because, every fall, these beautiful blooms are planted in memory of 9/11 victims through The Daffodil Project.

This fall, the tradition continues with weekend events across all five boroughs. Volunteers who register will head home with free daffodil bulbs and locally sourced pollinator seeds—think asters, monkeyflower and goldenrod—provided in partnership with the NYC Parks Plant Ecology Center. The idea is simple: Come spring, those plantings will erupt into a blaze of color that doubles as both civic beautification and a poignant reminder of collective memory.

Registration for bulbs has already maxed out—demand fills quickly every year—but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. New Yorkers can still sign up to volunteer at distribution sites, helping with everything from bagging bulbs to welcoming fellow participants. 

Sprint, jog or walk to honor the heroes of 9/11 and those who've served the nation. The 9/11 Heroes Run 5K team welcomes everyone of all ages and all fitness levels to join them in empowering local veterans, active duty, first responders and families of the fallen. 

The event is on Saturday, September 12 at Randall's Island Park. Registration is available online. 

Visit The New York City Fire Museum to see the first permanent memorial to the 343 members of the FDNY who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The tribute includes a memorial with pictures of the firefighters lost in the attacks, cases displaying items recovered from the Ground Zero recovery effort and a wall-size timeline chronicling that day’s tragic events.

The museum itself—at 278 Spring Street—was an active firehouse from 1904 to 1959. Tickets range from $3 to $15, depending on circumstances.