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September 11 / Museum Travel / New York City Travel / Tragedies / → All Tags

How To Get Tickets To The 9-11 Memorial

It’s been ten years in the making, but yesterday the 9/11 Memorial in New York City opened to families of the victims affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Starting today, the place is open to anyone and everyone, so you’re free to pay your respects. However, you are going to need a ticket, but don’t worry—they’re free.

Timed admission passes are available online, but as you can imagine, they're being booked up quickly. As of this morning, there are a few options for later this month, but you’re going to need to cut of work early—or extend that lunch break—as they’re smack dab in the middle of the afternoon. The online reservation system is pretty slick, as you can pick specific times and dates with little to no hassle—again, assuming availability. Things were a little buggy at times, but we’re just thinking it’s because we’re only one of like a million people trying to access the site.

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September 11 / New York City / Tragedies / Travel Snapshots / → All Tags

The NYC Skyline As We Know It Now

This Sunday is the 10th Anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

Because of 9/11, everything changed—the skyline of New York City is just one piece of that change.

Remembering all who lost their lives that day, including the passengers and crew of American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77 and United Airlines Flight 93.

[Photo: Jaunted]

New York City / Photography Travel / Art Travel / Travel Photography / Museum Travel / Events / September 11 / Tragedies / Photo Gallery / → All Tags

10 Years Later, Photographer Joe McNally Exhibits 'The Faces of Ground Zero'

"Wow, I can't believe it's been ten years already." These are the words that'll drop from many lips, in a range of languages, for the next couple months as we hit the decade mark for the events of September 11, 2001. Everyone has a story—where you were, what you were doing, who you know connected to the tragedies—but can they really compare to those of the First Responders and their families? The history of 9/11 appears on their faces, deepening worry lines and giving a glint to a previously stony glare.

These are the people who star in ginormous polaroids by famed photographer Joe McNally, the polaroids which first went on display in 2002 after McNally captured the images in a studio on the Bowery, mere weeks after the World Trade Center came down. Revisiting the project these ten years later, McNally has switched to a Nikon DSLR but the subjects are the same.

The exhibit—"Faces of Ground Zero: 10 Years Later"—opens today and runs through September 12, 2011. It's located on the first and second levels of the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle, New York City, and is completely free to the public. We stopped in just this morning...

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New York City / Tragedies / Tourist Traps / Travel Snapshots / September 11 / → All Tags

NYC's 'Tribute of Light' Returns for Ninth Anniversary of September 11

It's that time of the year again, when two powerful lights take up their brief residence in lower Manhattan to remember the thousands of lives lost during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This year marks the ninth anniversary, and as New York City has done every year around the date since 2003. Officially the installation is called "Tribute of Light," and it takes 88 searchlights to form the seemingly never-ending beams. Next year will be the lights' final year to appear, marking the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

Yesterday we showed you the real reason that tourists ride the free Staten Island Ferry from the tip of Manhattan: the view of the Statue of Liberty. However, since a few days ago and continuing through this upcoming weekend, the tourist hordes will be attracted by the World Trade Center lights, which are perfectly visible and photographable from the ferry. Our friend @the_vole was on the ferry just last night, shooting these images with his iPhone.

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September 11 / New York City / Tragedies / → All Tags

Eight Years Later, Air Travel Still Affected By September 11

Yesterday evening, while we were out gallivanting around town for Fashion's Night Out, we passed by a store whose sidewalk sported those rental searchlights. We continued walking, until we noticed another pair of searchlights even further downtown, and that is when we stopped in our tracks. This is the pair of Tribute Lights for 9/11, placed in the hole where the Twin Towers stood up until this date in 2001.

We won't run through the history of the event again for you, but we will remind you that today's date still carries some weight when it comes to air travel. Use your common sense, arrive to your airport extra early in case of heightened security, and don't go around the terminal talking about how great you did at the shooting range last night.

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National Parks / September 11 / → All Tags

More Land For The Flight 93 Memorial

The National Park Service has acquired additional land at the site of the Flight 93 crash to create a more permanent national memorial to honor those who lost their lives on September 11.

Officials purchased 57 acres of land in western Pennsylvania in hopes that the final memorial can be completed by the tragedy’s 10th anniversary. The park service is also looking to create a residence on the property for a park ranger to provide increased security.

Finally, a nonprofit organization known simply as the Friends Group will be formed to ensure that the memorial is created to respect and honor those that lost their lives on 9-11. The group will also continue to raise funds in addition to the $13.5 million that's already been collected for the project.

Related Stories:
· National Park Service Acquires More Land for Flight 93 Memorial [USA Today]
· National Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: hammer_4_u_68]

Tourism Board Travel / September 11 / → All Tags

Tourism Board Travel: Vegas Needs You

Just in time for 9-11, the capital of shamelessness, Vegas, is launching a shameless tourism campaign. The Vegas tourism board is renewing its efforts to lure foreign visitors: Since the terrorist attacks, foreign travel to Sin City has dropped dramatically, and after six years, and tourism officials have had enough. According to the AP:

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board...is aiming to boost the share of visitors who come from other countries to 15 percent, up from the current 13 percent, by 2010. The destination's percentage of visitors from abroad have fallen from 18 percent before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, buffeted by tougher visa restrictions, wariness of travel and customs checks.

The "What Happens Here, Stays Here" slogan is even being translated to foreign languages for overseas ads, and the campaign will be tweaked to fit British humor. Interesting: We can't think of a single way to make that saying any less funny.

Related Stories:
· Vegas Tourism Plan [AP, via IHT]
· Las Vegas Convention and Vistors Authority [Official Site]

[Photos: infohostels]