Flight 93 National Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flight 93 National Memorial |
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| Location | Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Nearest city | Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 2,321 acres (9.39 km2) |
| Established | September 24, 2002 |
| Visitors | 377,810 (in 2023) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Flight 93 National Memorial |
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Flight 93 National Memorial
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| Location | 6424 Lincoln Highway, Stoystown, PA 15563, Shanksville vicinity, Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Architect | Paul Murdoch Architects |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000272 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 2002 |
The Flight 93 National Memorial is a national park site in western Pennsylvania. It honors the 40 passengers and crew members who lost their lives on United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
The park is located in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, mostly within Stonycreek Township near the town of Shanksville. It sits about 78 miles (126 km) southeast of Pittsburgh and 122 miles (196 km) west of Harrisburg.
The memorial protects the open fields where the airplane came down. The site includes a modern visitor center, walking trails, memorial groves of trees, a marble wall of names, and a massive musical wind chime tower.
Contents
What Happened on United Airlines Flight 93?
The Events of September 11, 2001
On the morning of September 11, 2001, four commercial airplanes were taken over across the eastern United States. Three of the planes struck buildings in New York City and Arlington, Virginia.
United Airlines Flight 93 was a Boeing 757 passenger plane flying from Newark, New Jersey, toward San Francisco, California. Shortly into the flight, attackers took control of the cockpit.
The attackers turned the plane around and flew it southeast toward Washington, D.C. Experts believe their target was either the United States Capitol building or the White House.
The Bravery of the Passengers and Crew
While the plane was under hostile control, passengers and crew used onboard airfones and cell phones to contact family members and authorities.
Through these phone calls, they learned about the other attacks happening that morning. They realized that their airplane was going to be used as a weapon to harm many more people on the ground.
The passengers and crew quickly voted together to take action. Led by brave individuals, they fought back against the attackers to regain control of the airplane.
Their courageous actions forced the aircraft to crash into an empty field in rural Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m. Because of their teamwork and sacrifice, the plane never reached its intended target in Washington, D.C.
How the Memorial Was Created
The Temporary Memorial Site
Immediately after the event, people from all over the world wanted to pay their respects to the heroes.
The exact crash site was set aside as sacred ground and closed to the public to protect the area for families and investigators.
A temporary memorial was set up on a hillside about 500 yards (450 m) away from the crash site.
A 40-foot (12 m) chain-link fence was built to represent the 40 passengers and crew members. Visitors left thousands of items on the fence, including flowers, personal notes, flags, and hats.
The National Park Service gathered and preserved every single item left by visitors. A small building nearby allowed guests to sign guestbooks and ask questions to park volunteers called ambassadors.
Passing the Flight 93 National Memorial Act
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| Long title | An Act to authorize a national memorial to commemorate the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who, on September 11, 2001, courageously gave their lives thereby thwarting a planned attack on our Nation's Capitol, and for other purposes. |
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| Enacted by | the 107th United States Congress |
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| Public law | Pub.L. 107-226 |
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Leaders in the United States government moved quickly to make sure a permanent national park would protect the site forever.
In early 2002, Congressman John Murtha and Senator Arlen Specter introduced bills in the U.S. Congress to create a permanent national memorial.
Congress passed the Flight 93 National Memorial Act in September 2002. President George W. Bush signed it into law on September 24, 2002.
The new law established the park and placed it under the care of the National Park Service. It specifically stated that the memorial would only honor the 40 innocent passengers and crew.
Gathering the Land and Community Support
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To build the memorial park, leaders needed to bring together roughly 2,200 acres (890 ha) of land.
The land around the crash site included open fields, former coal mining properties, and forested hills.
A partnership called the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign raised tens of millions of dollars from private donors, charities, and government funds to buy the land.
Many local landowners sold or donated their property so the national park could be built. Today, the park covers 2,321 acres (939 ha), preserving a peaceful, natural setting.
Designing the Memorial Landscape
The Public Design Competition
In 2004, a competition was launched to find the best architectural design for the permanent memorial.
More than 1,000 design entries were submitted by architects and artists from all over the world.
A jury of 15 people evaluated the ideas. This jury included family members of the victims, professional designers, and local community leaders.
In September 2005, the jury chose a design created by architects Paul and Milena Murdoch of Los Angeles, working with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects.
Refining the Architectural Layout
The architects worked to create a landscape design that fit naturally into the rolling hills of Somerset County.
Their initial concept featured a circular shape that followed the natural bowl of the land. After listening to public feedback, the architects refined the layout into a complete circular ring of trees and paths.
A long walkway cuts straight through the circle. This line marks the exact flight path the airplane traveled during its final moments.
The design guides visitors along a thoughtful journey, from an overlook down to the sacred impact site.
Main Features of the Memorial Park
The Visitor Center and Overlook
The Flight 93 Visitor Center opened to the public on September 10, 2015.
The visitor center is made of dark concrete and glass. It sits high on a ridge overlooking the entire valley and the crash site below.
Two tall concrete walls frame the exact flight path of the aircraft as it flew toward the ground.
Inside, visitors can explore educational exhibits, listen to recorded audio from that day, and learn personal stories about each passenger and crew member.
Outside the visitor center, an observation platform gives guests a panoramic view of the memorial landscape.
The Memorial Plaza and Wall of Names
At the bottom of the hill lies the Memorial Plaza and the Sacred Ground.
The centerpiece of the plaza is the Wall of Names, which features 40 separate panels made of smooth white marble.
Each marble panel stands 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and is inscribed with the name of one passenger or crew member.
The panels are placed side-by-side along the edge of the flight path. A large wooden ceremonial gate marks the entrance to the Sacred Ground where the plane landed.
Only the families of the passengers and crew are allowed past the gate onto the sacred ground itself.
The Impact Zone Boulder
Inside the Sacred Ground, a massive boulder marks the exact spot of the aircraft impact.
The boulder sits near the edge of a hemlock forest that was damaged during the crash.
In 2018, all recovered wreckage from the aircraft was respectfully buried beneath the sacred ground during a private ceremony.
Wildflowers and native grasses now grow across the field surrounding the impact stone.
The Tower of Voices
Near the park entrance along U.S. Route 30 stands a unique musical monument called the Tower of Voices.
The tower was dedicated on September 9, 2018. It stands 93 feet (28 m) tall to match the flight number.
The structure is made of concrete and steel and holds 40 specially tuned wind chimes suspended inside.
Each chime produces a different tone, representing the distinct voice of each hero on the flight.
The chimes are made of polished aluminum tubes that measure between 5 feet (1.5 m) and 10 feet (3.0 m) long.
Engineers and musical composers worked together to design chimes that ring naturally whenever the mountain winds blow through the tower.
Caring for the Memorial Landscape
The Memorial Groves
The design of the park included planting 40 groves of trees behind the circular walking path.
Thousands of volunteers and family members helped plant thousands of seedlings, including maple and oak trees.
These trees create a living memorial that changes color through the seasons, showing vibrant red and gold leaves each autumn.
The Resiliency Project
Over time, park managers noticed that some planted trees struggled to grow due to harsh mountain weather and poor soil from past coal mining.
In response, the National Park Service and the Friends of Flight 93 started the Resiliency Project.
Running from 2024 through 2029, this project replaces unhealthy trees with hardier native tree species.
New plantings include:
These durable trees ensure that the memorial forest will remain healthy, strong, and beautiful for future generations of visitors.
Visiting the Park Today
The Flight 93 National Memorial welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
The park offers several miles of walking trails, connecting the visitor center, the wetlands, the groves, and the Memorial Plaza.
Junior Ranger programs allow young visitors to learn about the history, geography, and ecology of the site.
Every year on September 11, a special observance ceremony is held at the park.
During the ceremony, the Bells of Remembrance are rung 40 times as each person's name is read aloud, honoring the unity and courage of the 40 heroes of Flight 93.
See also
In Spanish: Memorial nacional al Vuelo 93 para niños
