New York City - Day 2

We began our 2nd day in New York visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum honoring the nearly 3,000 men, women and children who died during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. 

Arriving at the World Trade Center complex we visited the transportation hub known as the Oculus.  (It is supposed to resemble a dove in flight.)  Five rail lines from New Jersey connect to the hub via tunnels under the Hudson River where  passengers can then transfer to the NYC subway system.

The spacious interior descends down 4 levels to the train platforms.  One level consists of a 365,000 square feet shopping mall.  Fifty-thousand passengers pass through the hub daily.

One World Trade Center (aka Freedom Tower) is the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex.  This super-tall structure has the same name as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. From the sidewalk it looks as though it extends to infinity.

At 1,776 feet high it is the tallest building in the western hemisphere. It opened on November 3, 2014.  Notice the height corresponds to the year of our country's independence.

A callery pear tree was recovered from the rubble at the World Trade Center site in October 2001.  With only one living branch, it was the only vegetation that survived the destruction.   Nursed back to health, today it proudly stands 30 feet high. Known as the "Survivor Tree," it has become a symbol of hope and rebirth and is located near the center of Memorial Plaza.

Two 1-acre pools with the largest man-made waterfalls in the United States comprise the footprints of the Twin Towers, symbolizing the loss of life and the physical void left by the attacks. The waterfalls are intended to mute the sounds of the city, making the site a contemplative sanctuary. Inscribed around the falls are the names of the 2,977 people killed.  Flowers are placed next to each victim's name on their birthday.

The museum contains Ground Zero artifacts include including a fire engine deformed from the collapse, recordings of survivors and first responders (including 911 phone calls), pictures of all victims, photographs from the wreckage and other media detailing the destruction (including the crashes, collapse, fires, those who jumped and the cleanup). The museum is designed to evoke memories without additional distress, particularly to first responders and the families of victims.

Part of the motor of an Otis Elevator recovered from the debris.

A section of the communications tower which was located at the top of the original One World Trade Center building.

After lunch Gene visited the "Intrepid", a WWII aircraft carrier docked near the Viking Sun.  Today it is a sea, air and space museum.  (Above) The flight deck as viewed from the bridge.

The supersonic Concord passenger jet is on display.

A post WWII submarine, the "Growler", displayed the Regulus cruise missile which was part of its arsenal. The missile was nuclear capable and deployed on the Growler during the 1950s (cold war era) in the Pacific .
  

The space shuttle Enterprise is one of the featured displays.  It was the first shuttle built and used as a test prototype.  Its only flights were suborbital (never launched into orbit).  It was retired in 2012 as the shuttle program was nearing completion.