World Trade Center site facts for kids
The World Trade Center site is a special area in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It covers about 16 acres (6.5 hectares). This land was once underwater! The first World Trade Center buildings stood here. They were sadly destroyed during the September 11 attacks. Now, a new group of buildings is being built on the site. Several groups help manage this big project. These include Studio Daniel Libeskind and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Contents
What Happened on September 11, 2001?
On the morning of September 11, 2001, a terrible event occurred. Two airplanes were taken over by a group of people linked to al-Qaeda. These planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The North Tower and the South Tower were both hit. Within two hours, both towers fell down. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in these attacks. After this, people like hospital workers and police began calling the site "Ground Zero."
Cleaning Up and Remembering
When the towers fell, a huge amount of dust spread across New York City. Hundreds of thousands of tons of debris were left at the site. The New York City Fire Department divided the area into four parts. This helped them clean up and search for survivors. People first thought the cleanup would take a year. But it actually finished by May 2002. Building pieces and debris were sent to the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island.
In December 2001, a special viewing area opened to the public. It was on Fulton Street, between Church Street and Broadway.
The Tribute in Light
On March 11, 2002, six months after the attacks, a memorial called the Tribute in Light began. It uses two strong beams of light that shine straight up into the sky. It was lit up every evening until April 14, 2002. Since then, it has been lit up every September 11th. It helps everyone remember those who were lost.
A Place to Remember and Learn
A memorial called "Reflecting Absence" honors those who died. This includes victims from the September 11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. It was designed by Peter Walker and Michael Arad. The memorial has a field of trees. It also has the exact shapes of where the original towers stood. These shapes are now pools of water. The memorial opened on September 11, 2011. This was the tenth anniversary of the attacks.
There is also a museum at the site. It will serve as a memorial museum and a visitors' center. It was designed by Gehry Partners LLP and Snøhetta. The museum is expected to open in the spring of 2014.
Building New Structures
Soon after the September 11 attacks, leaders promised to rebuild. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Governor George Pataki, and President George W. Bush all spoke about it. On the day of the attacks, Giuliani said, "We will rebuild." President Bush visited the site on September 14, 2001. He told workers, "The people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."
The new World Trade Center complex will have several important buildings:
- 1 World Trade Center: This is the main building. Construction started in April 2006. It was finished in August 2012 and opened in 2014.
- 2 World Trade Center: Work on this building began in July 2008.
- 3 World Trade Center: Construction started in March 2008.
- 4 World Trade Center: This building began construction in 2008. It opened on November 13, 2013.
- 5 World Trade Center: Construction started on September 9, 2011.
- 7 World Trade Center: This building was the first to be completed. It opened on May 23, 2006.
In November 2001, Governor Pataki created the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC). This group helps manage the rebuilding of the World Trade Center. They work with the Port Authority and other partners. They also talk with local communities and families of those who died.
Challenges in Rebuilding
In 2010, a TV show called 60 Minutes looked at the slow progress at Ground Zero. It showed that many buildings did not have a clear finish date. The main building, One World Trade Center, even had three different designs. There were also delays and high costs. Larry Silverstein, a developer, said the whole site might not be done until 2037. He mentioned that billions of dollars had been spent. He also said, "I am the most frustrated person in the world...I'm seventy-eight years of age; I want to see this thing done in my lifetime."
However, by early 2011, a lot of progress had been made. All five main buildings were under construction. Most of the buildings were expected to be finished between 2012 and 2016. There were also concerns about the lack of work in 2008 and 2009. But overall, the rebuilding effort has continued, bringing new life to the area.
Images for kids
-
A view of Ground Zero, taken in September 2006, from the 45th floor of the completed 7 World Trade Center with the future Greenwich Street running vertically through the center.
-
Entrance to the PATH at the World Trade Center
-
Aerial photo of the World Trade Center site, as it appeared on September 23, 2001.
-
Debris at Ground Zero, November 11, 2001
-
Ground Zero on March 15, 2002.
-
Ground Zero in July 2002.
-
Aerial view of the site from the northwest, 2002.
-
The World Trade Center site after cleanup, 2003.
-
Visitors at Ground Zero, 2005.
-
Construction as of March 2, 2010. Four World Trade Center can be seen rising on the left.
-
Aerial view, April 2010
-
Ground Zero from the 30th floor of the W Hotel, July 28, 2010
-
One World Trade Center on June 1, 2011. The tower's steel is up to the 68th floor.
-
One World Trade Center on January 28, 2012. Glass has been placed higher than 7 World Trade Center.
-
Four World Trade Center under construction on March 12, 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Sitio del World Trade Center para niños
