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SNØHETTA-911 Museum-Exterior-DayThe <a href="http://www.911memorial.org/visit-911-memorial-museum">National 9/11 Memorial Museum</a> recently opened, giving visitors access to the sacred remnants of the Twin Towers after more than a decade. The new space is located beneath the reflecting pools at the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/the-national-911-memorial-is-now-open-photo-gallery/">September 11 Memorial grounds</a>, almost 70-feet underground to reach the foundations of the original World Trade Center towers. The grand museum spans 121,000 square feet and is entirely dedicated to telling the history of the tragic attacks of September 11th and the World Trade Center's road to recovery and rebirth.1
9/11 Memorial Museum Slurry WallTo help guide visitors though the history of the site the design team at Davis Brody Bond designed the museum around one central element dubbed the Ribbon. Designed as a gentle path, the Ribbon guides visitors down from the plaza to the bedrock level where the sheared base columns of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/new-smartphone-app-draws-the-twin-towers-in-the-sky/">WTC Twin Towers</a> lie.2
9/11 Memorial Museum Survivors' StairsTowards the bottom of this descending path visitors will come upon one of the last standing emergency stairways —named the “<a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/snohettas-glittering-atrium-pavilion-caps-off-the-subterranean-911-museum/">Survivor’s Stairs</a>”—used by hundreds to escape to safety on 9/11.3
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9/11 Memorial Museum planDespite the enormity of the museum, most of the space is actually empty to convey the absence of the building that was once there.5
9/11 Memorial Museum Impact SteelAt the same time you will see large pieces of the Twin Towers including a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/first-portion-of-santiago-calatrava-designed-world-trade-center-transportation-hub-opens-to-public-photos/">60-foot slurry wall</a>, one of the original retaining walls designed to push against the force of the river that also survived the collapse of the building above.6
9/11 Memorial Museum Impact Steel belowElsewhere there is a 58-ton steel column named the “Last Column.” This structure was removed ceremoniously on May 30th, 2002 to mark the official end of the nine-month <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/ground-zero/">Ground Zero recovery effort</a>.7
SNØHETTA-911 Museum-StaircaseThe 9/11 Memorial Museum is open now Monday through Friday 9AM to 5PM. Although a steep paid admission is required ($24 for adults, $18 for seniors and veterans, and $15 for children), 9/11 rescue and recovery workers can get in for free with registration. Additionally admission is free for all from 5PM to 8PM with last entry at 7PM.8
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