World Trade Center site

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World Trade Center site, also known as Ground Zero, is a 14.6-acre area in Lower Manhattan, New York City, that was previously occupied by the Original World Trade Center complex, which included the iconic Twin Towers designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Minoru Yamasaki. The site has undergone significant transformations over the years, with major events including the September 11 attacks and the subsequent Rebuilding and redevelopment efforts led by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. The site is also home to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, designed by Michael Arad and Peter Walker, and is accessible via the New York City Subway and the World Trade Center Transportation Hub designed by Santiago Calatrava.

History of the World Trade Center site

The World Trade Center site has a rich history dating back to the 17th century, when it was part of the Hudson River waterfront and was used for shipping and trade by the Dutch West India Company and the British East India Company. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the area was developed with warehouses and piers by the New York and New Jersey Railroad and the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was established in 1921 to oversee the development of the region's transportation infrastructure, including the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln Tunnel. The World Trade Center was first proposed in the 1940s by the New York State Legislature and the United States Congress, with the support of David Rockefeller and Nelson Rockefeller.

The Original World Trade Center complex was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Minoru Yamasaki and was completed in 1973, with the Twin Towers being the tallest buildings in the world at the time, surpassing the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. The complex also included the Marriott World Trade Center hotel, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and the World Trade Center Plaza, designed by Isamu Noguchi. The World Trade Center was a major hub for international trade and finance, with tenants including the New York Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the International Monetary Fund. The complex was also home to the Windows on the World restaurant, located on the 107th floor of the North Tower, and the Top of the World Trade Center Observatory, which offered stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River.

On September 11, 2001, a series of terrorist attacks were carried out by Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, resulting in the collapse of the Twin Towers and significant damage to the surrounding area, including the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and the Verizon Building. The attacks resulted in the loss of nearly 3,000 lives, including those of New York City Fire Department and New York City Police Department personnel, as well as civilians from over 70 countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The 9/11 Commission was established by the United States Congress to investigate the attacks, with the support of President George W. Bush and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Following the September 11 attacks, the World Trade Center site underwent a major rebuilding and redevelopment effort, led by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, with the support of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor George Pataki. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum was designed by Michael Arad and Peter Walker and was opened to the public in 2014, featuring two large reflecting pools and a museum with artifacts and exhibits related to the September 11 attacks, including the Survivor Tree and the Last Column. The One World Trade Center building, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, was completed in 2014 and is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, surpassing the Willis Tower and the Empire State Building. The World Trade Center Transportation Hub was designed by Santiago Calatrava and was opened in 2016, featuring a train station and a shopping center with stores and restaurants, including the Eataly and the Hudson Eats.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a memorial to the victims of the September 11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, designed by Michael Arad and Peter Walker. The memorial features two large reflecting pools, each approximately one acre in size, with the names of the victims of the September 11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing inscribed on the edges, including the names of the New York City Fire Department and New York City Police Department personnel who responded to the attacks. The museum features artifacts and exhibits related to the September 11 attacks, including the Survivor Tree, the Last Column, and a piece of the World Trade Center antenna. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is operated by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum Foundation, with the support of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.

The World Trade Center site is accessible via the New York City Subway, with several train stations located nearby, including the World Trade Center station and the Cortlandt Street station. The World Trade Center Transportation Hub was designed by Santiago Calatrava and features a train station and a shopping center with stores and restaurants, including the Eataly and the Hudson Eats. The site is also accessible by bus and car, with several parking garages located nearby, including the Battery Parking Garage and the World Trade Center Parking Garage. The Hudson River Greenway and the West Side Highway also provide access to the site, with bicycle and pedestrian paths, including the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and the Brooklyn Bridge.