History of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum was constructed on the former site of the Twin Towers, two 110-storey buildings designed by Minoru Yamasaki in the 1960’s and also known as the North and South Towers.

At 1,368 feet tall, the North Tower, which was completed in 1972, surpassed the Empire State Building to become the tallest building in the world followed by the South Tower, although they lost this record to the Chicago Sears Tower later in 1973.

Typically, around 50,000 people worked in the Twin Towers with a further 200,000 people visiting on a daily basis. The World Trade Centre suffered a series of incidents throughout its lifetime, including a fire in the North Tower on 13 February 1975 and a terrorist attack in that tower’s underground garage on 26 February 1993 which killed six people. However, it was the events of 9/11 which are permanently ingrained in the global consciousness.

At 08:46 on 11 September 2001, terrorists crashed commercial American Airlines flight 11 into the North Twin Tower, followed shortly by crashing United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower. The impact was enormous. At 9:59, the South Tower collapsed, the North Tower following suit at 10:28. Whilst approximately 15,000 people were safely evacuated, the World Trade Centre attacks claimed almost 3,000 casualties, the worst casualty rate for a terrorist attack in US history.

The impact of the collapse of the towers saw the surrounding area heavily damaged – the clean up operation took nearly a year.

A memorial was planned in the aftermath of the attacks for the victims and those involved in rescue and recovery operations, and construction began on the memorial and museum in August 2006.

Construction of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum followed the designs of architects Michael Arad and Peter Walker, who envisioned a field of trees interrupted by two large, recessed pools in the footprints of the Twin Towers. The names of 2,983 victims of the attacks were inscribed on the parapets surrounding the memorial pools. The memorial opened to the public in 2011, and the museum opened in 2014.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum today

The memorial and museum remember the tragic events of 9/11 and those who lost their lives. Visitors learn about the events which led up to the incident, the unspeakably harrowing hours on the morning of 9/11, and the stories that emerged from it.

Exhibitions examine the surrounding context of the event, including the construction of the World Trade Centre and the subsequent ‘War on Terror‘ and hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Ladder 3 Firetruck and the so-called Survivors’ Staircase are particularly poignant installations.

On the grounds of the memorial stands the “Survivor Tree”, a Callery pear tree which survived the September 11 attacks. It was removed from the rubble, where it was severely damaged. It was rehabilitated and returned to the site in 2010 with new, smooth limbs. The tree is intended to remember “resilience, survival and rebirth”; each year, seedlings from the tree are distributed to communities that have endured tragedy.

Getting to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The memorial is accessed via Greenwich Street or Dey Street. The nearest subway stations at Cortlandt St and World Trade Center, both of which are a couple of minutes walk away. Any taxi driver in the city will be able to take you here: it’s about a 30 minute ride south of Manhattan.

The Alan Turing Memorial history

Throughout his life, Alan Turing made remarkable contributions to the world of mathematics, logic, cryptanalysis and the future realms of computer science. In 1938, he joined the Government Code and Cypher School, and moved to Bletchley Park at the outbreak of World War Two the following year. 

With his team in Hut 8 he designed a code-breaking machine known as the Bombe, and by 1942 was breaking more than 84,000 intercepted messages per month. This intelligence is thought to have significantly shortened the length of the war by 2 years, likely saving the lives of 14 million people. He was awarded an OBE and elected a fellow to the Royal Society of London. 

In 1952, homosexuality was still a crime under UK law, and in March of that year Turing was convicted of ‘gross indecency’ or in other words, being homosexual. He was given a criminal record and forced to undergo 12 months of hormone ‘therapy’, following which he moved to Manchester and began undertaking groundbreaking research into artificial life.

In the middle of this work however, Turing was found dead in his home from cyanide poisoning. Though many believe he committed suicide, it is still unknown what exactly happened. 

On 23 June 2001, the Alan Turing Memorial was installed in Sackville Gardens on what would have been his 89th birthday. The statue was cast in China following an enormous fundraising effort over the course of a year, surmounting to a total of £16,000 raised.

The Memorial today

Today the Alan Turing Memorial draws visitors from far and wide to honour the great man it was made for. The memorial features a bronze statue of Turing sitting on a bench holding an apple. 

The words, ‘Alan Mathison Turing 1912–1954’ are inscribed on the bench, with the motto ‘Founder of Computer Science’ written in a perceived enigma code. A plaque sits at his feet that reads the words: ‘Mathematician, Logician, Wartime Codebreaker, Victim of Prejudice’, and on the pavement is a mosaic LGBTQ flag.

Bouquets of flowers are often draped around his bronze likeness, particularly on the anniversary of his birth, and he is aptly placed between Canal Street, where Manchester’s gay village is situated, and the University of Manchester.

Getting to the Alan Turing Memorial 

The Memorial is located in Sackville Gardens in central Manchester and is a 10-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station. Its closest bus stop is the Sackville Gardens Stop directly next to the park, and the closest major stop is Minshull Street South, a 4-minute walk away. Parking is available all over the city, with the closest to Sackville Gardens being the NCP Car Park Manchester Sackville Street, a 1-minute walk away. 

Albert Memorial history

Designed by George Gilbert Scott, the memorial stands near the southern boundary of the park, between Alexandra Gate and Queen’s Gate and was unveiled in 1872. The memorial was built from 1864-1876, after a national competition to select a design and cost a total of £120,000 which was raised by a combination of public subscription and Parliamentary grants.

Influenced by the series of 13th Century Eleanor Crosses such as Charing Cross and other statues in Edinburgh and Manchester, Scott’s memorial design is in the victorian gothic style. The centrepiece of the memorial is a 14-foot high statue of Prince Albert holding the catalogue of the Great Exhibition, held in Hyde Park in 1851, which he inspired and helped to organise.

The memorial is rife with allegory. There are 169 pieces of statuary figures incorporated into the design. Marble figures representing Europe, Asia, Africa and America stand at each corner of the memorial. Higher up, further figures representing manufacture, commerce, agriculture and engineering. Above these are gilded bronze statues of the angels and virtues. The Frieze of Parnassus at the base of the memorial depicts celebrated painters, poets sculptors, musicians and architects, reflecting Prince Albert’s enthusiasm for the arts.

By the late 1990s the memorial had fallen into a state of some decay. A thorough restoration was carried out by Mowlem which included cleaning, repainting and re-gilding the entire monument as well as carrying out structural repairs.

Following the restoration, the statue of Albert was covered in gold leaf. For 80 years before this, the statue had been covered in black paint. Various theories had existed that it was deliberately blackened during World War One to prevent it from becoming a target for Zeppelin bombing raids or domestic anti-German sentiment. However, English Heritage’s research prior to the restoration suggests that the black coating pre-dates 1914 and may have been a response to atmospheric pollution that had destroyed the original gold leaf surface.

Albert Memorial today

Today the memorial is a popular attraction for those visiting London and enjoying Hyde Park. Kensington Palace, the childhood home of Queen Victoria, is nearby. The Royal Parks organisation offer paid walking tours that delve into the history of the memorial, Victoria and Albert’s relationship and the £11.2 million worth of restoration projects.

Getting to Albert Memorial

The memorial stands opposite the Royal Albert Hall, on the southern fringe of Kensington Gardens. The site is easily accessible by public transport. Tube stations nearby include South Kensington, Gloucester Road and Knightsbridge. The memorial is well signposted from paths across Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.

Anglo-Boer War Museum history

The Second Anglo-Boer War was a major conflict between Britain and the Orange Free State republics and Boers of South Africa which raged from 1899 to 1902. It was a clash between British imperialism and the nationalism of the South Africans, in which the British tried to unite the different areas into one unified colonial state.

Bloemfontein was a vital location in the war as it was both the site of the Bloemfontein Conference in 1899, which served to fan the flames of war, and was also captured by the British commander Lord Roberts on 13 March 1900.

After the unveiling of the National Women’s Monument in 1913, the memorial committee decided to open a museum preserving the history of the conflict. The cornerstone was laid in 1930 and opened a year later, expanded year-by-year.

Anglo-Boer War Museum today

Open 8am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm at the weekend, the Anglo-Boer War Museum chronicles the events leading up to the war, the course of the war and its aftermath. One of its most moving exhibits is that relating to concentration camps: the Second Anglo-Boer War is notorious for being the first war in which such camps were used, a strategy spearheaded by Lord Herbert Kitchener.

The museum is next to the National Women’s Memorial, a high-reaching obelisk which commemorates those who perished in these camps.

Getting to the Anglo-Boer War Museum

Located along Monument Road in Bloemfontein, the Anglo-Boer War Museum is hard to miss in the centre of town and is reached by car just off Route 1 or 8 exiting from Curie Avenue.

The Anzac Cove landings were part of the Gallipoli Campaign, an effort by the Commonwealth and by the French to remove Turkey from World War One. The troops were meant to land elsewhere but were erroneously dropped at Anzac Cove, which was a steep and difficult terrain.

Today, there are several memorials at Anzac Cove and it is the site where the dawn Anzac Day ceremonies are held.

Anzac Cove history

The 600 metre-long cove, surrounded by headlands (one of which known as Hell Spit), became famous when ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops landed there in April 1915. The troops’ first priority was to set up a protected area of beach where supplies and troops could land.

The cove was also within 1 kilometre of the front-line and the range of Turkish artillery at ‘Beachy Bill’ or the Gaba Tepe battery, meaning the ANZACs were continually bombarded by enemy fire. Although this did not stop 2 field hospitals and an enormous supply store being established at Anzac. Nor did it prevent soldiers from indulging in their one luxury while without chances to wash: swimming in the water.

Anzac Cove continued to be the main base of Australian and New Zealand forces throughout the 8 month campaign until Allied forces were evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916, having failed to take Turkey out of the conflict. In 1985, the name ‘Anzac Cove’ was officially recognised by the Turkish Government and at North Beach, a commemorative site was built.

Anzac Cove today

Over a century since troops landed at Anzac Cove, the now quiet rugged coastline is a reflective spot for visitors interested in the history of World War One. The trenches still exist at the cove’s neck.

Just around the corner from where the ANZAC troops landed there is a memorial cemetery. It is worth hiring a local tour guide to give you a fuller view of the landings and activity at Anzac within the wider context of the Gallipoli campaign.

Getting to Anzac Cove

The easiest way to reach Anzac Cove is driving from Canakkale via the D550 and E87, which takes 48 minutes.

Arc de Triomphe history

The Arc de Triomphe was built on Napoleon’s demand after the famous Battle of Austerlitz (1805), considered as his most famous military “masterpiece”.

The purpose of the Arch was to perpetuate the memory of the victories of the French army. The first stone was laid on August 15 of 1806, and the monument finished 30 years later, in 1836. The Arch is an imposing and ornate structure. Its many engravings include the dates of military victories, the names of important soldiers and depictions of war.

Before the expansion of Paris in 1860, the land on which was built the monument was on the border of the city, and had privileged access to the residence of the Emperor, the Tuileries Palace, located at the end of Champs Elysées. In addition to being a memorial, the Arc de Triomphe was also a showy gate erected to welcome Napoleon and his troops back from battles.

Arc de Triomphe today

Visitors can climb to its peak for magnificent views or enter the small museum inside it, both of which are included in the entrance fee. A further attraction at the Arc de Triomphe is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which commemorates those who fought in the two World Wars with an eternal flame.

Among the various decorations adorning the Arc de Triomphe. Do not miss Le Départ des Volontaires en 1792, also known as la Marseillaise, representing the French people in their diversity (revolutionary, royalist and Bonapartist) going together to battle. A republican french icon, built under King Louis Philippe in 1833.

Do not miss The attic either at the top of the arch, with 30 shields on which are engraved the names of the great battles of the Revolution and the Empire. Battles you will also see on the large arcades.

Finally, note that 2 times a year, the sun sets in the exact center of the arch, phenomenon you can enjoy from the Champs-Elysées. This breathtaking sight occurs in May and August. It is recommended one visits after 6:30 p.m., when the flame of the unknown soldier is lit and the Champs-Elysées is bathed in shimmering lights. From the observation deck at the top of the arch, breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré Coeur, and the Louvre are also in store.

Getting to Arc de Triomphe

The celebrated arch is located at the west end of the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, on the Place Charles de Gaulle (often also referred to as the Place de l’Etoile).If travelling via metro, the closest station is Charles de Gaulle Etoile which can be accessed via Line 1, 2 or 6.

History of Arlington National Cemetery

Initially, the site of Arlington Cemetery began as a house – Arlington House – built in memory of President George Washington. The house, which still stands today, then became the property of Mary and Robert E. Lee.

During the American Civil War, Lee was asked to be a Union leader but refused, waiting to see how Virginia would side. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, Lee became a commander of the Confederate army and fled from Arlington House shortly before the Union crossed the Potomac River and took the land around Washington. Eventually captured, Arlington House would become a Union army base.

In January 1864, the government legally purchased Arlington House and, later that year, desperately in need of space to bury the increasing number of war casualties, Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs designated Arlington a national cemetery – a function for which it had unofficially already been used. By the end of the conflict in 1865, Arlington housed the graves of over 5,000 soldiers.

Over the years, Arlington National Cemetery has come to represent a memorial to all US soldiers who have died for their country and is still an active cemetery. In fact, there are approximately 400,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery, neatly aligned and each with a white headstone.

With its status as a nationally heritage site, Arlington National Cemetery has also formed the location of numerous monuments. Amongst these are The Arlington Memorial Amphitheatre, where memorials and funerals are held, the United States Marine Corps Memorial, an iconic statue depicting soldiers raising the American flag and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial.

Arlington National Cemetery is also the home of The Tomb of the Unknowns, a burial place for one unidentified soldier from each of World War One, World War Two and the Korean War. There was a soldier from the Vietnam War, but he was later identified and moved. Many famous Americans are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, from military heroes to astronauts such as John Glenn and leaders such as President John F. Kennedy.

Arlington National Cemetery today

Those visiting Arlington National Cemetery can start at the visitor centre, where there are guide books, maps and exhibits. Arlington House itself is also open to the public, with a museum and guides chronicling this building’s unique history.

The site is unsurprisingly huge (covering 624 acres): there’s a handy hop-on hop-off bus that departs regularly from the visitors centre if you want to see the key points. Look out for the infamous Confederate Memorial, the Iwo Jima memorial, located in the northern fringes of the cemetery, the eternal flame by the tomb of JFK and the changing of the guard, which happens regularly.

Getting to Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington is just over the Potomac River from Washington D.C, meaning it’s in Virginia. It’s hard to miss: it borders the Pentagon, and Interstate 395, the South Washington Boulevard and Arlington Boulevard enclose it. There’s plenty of parking on Memorial Avenue, and the cemetery is also reached by public transport from Arlington Cemetery, Pentagon or Rosslyn metro.

Around 6,000 members of the Australian 9th Division were cumulatively lost to these battles. The Australian 9th Division War Memorial is adjacent to the El Alamein Cemetery.

History of Australian 9th Division War Memorial

The Western Desert Campaign was fought between the Commonwealth forces (with later additions of some French, Polish, and Greek troops) all based in Egypt, and the Axis forces (German and Italian) based in Libya.

The campaign saw a conflict waged over 1,000km of desert between Alexandria in Egypt and Benghazi in Libya from 1940-1942, with the objective of controlling the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, the Middle Eastern oil supplies, and the supply route to Russia through Persia.

The El Alamein War Cemetery in Egypt contains the graves of men who died during various stages of Western Desert campaigns, with a particular focus on those who died during the Battle of El Alamein in October 1942. This includes a separate monument dedicated to the Australian 9th Division, who represented a fifth of the army’s total casualties, totalling at 2,694.

During the Second Battle of El Alamein on 23 October 1942, the Australian 9th Division advanced, as part of an attack by four infantry divisions, on German and Italian defences.

The Australian 9th Division was on the front line longer, cumulatively, than any other Australian division, is one of the Australian military’s most decorated formations, and was praised by both Allied and Axis generals, including Bernard Montgomery and Erwin Rommel, who led opposing sides during the North Africa Campaign.

The brutal warfare they endured earned them the nickname ‘The Magnificent Ninth.’

Australian 9th Division War Memorial Today

Today, visitors to the El Alamein War Cemetery can find the memorial for the Australian 9th Division.

Getting to Australian 9th Division War Memorial

Alamein is a village, bypassed by the main coast road, approximately 130 kilometres by car west of Alexandria on the road to Mersa Matruh.

The first Commission road direction sign is located just beyond the Alamein police checkpoint and all visitors should turn off from the main road onto the parallel old coast road.

The cemetery lies off the road, slightly beyond a ridge, and is indicated by road direction signs approximately 25 metres before the low metal gates and stone wing walls which are situated centrally at the road edge at the head of the access path into the cemetery. The Cross of Sacrifice feature may be seen from the road.

Battle of Blood River Memorial history

Prior to the Battle of Blood River, a Boer diplomatic group led by Piet Retief were massacred by Zulu forces.

On 16 December 1838, angered by the attack, a force of Boers led by Andries Pretorius defeated the Zulus in Battle.

The 460 Voortrekkers formed an impenetrable laager, a defensive camp encircled with their ox-wagons, and fought the 15,000-strong impi attack until the Zulus finally retreated, leaving thousands dead and the river red with blood. The violent encounter became known as the Battle of Blood River.

The river in question was actually the Ncome River, which was said to have flowed red with the blood of 3,000 Zulus after the clash.

The monument was completed in 1939, yet due to the Second World War it was only unveiled in 1947. In 1971, the wagon was moved to its current position. The wagon is symbolically seen as a home, fortress and church for the Voortrekkers.

Battle of Blood River Memorial today

The Battle of Blood River Memorial depicts the main tactic used by the Boers, known as a “laager” or wagon circle. Comprised of 64 bronze wagons, the Battle of Blood River Memorial is located on the original battle site. There are also the nearby Blood River Museum and Ncome Museum, each chronicling the battle from the respective Boer and Zulu perspectives.

The site is named after a nearby river known as Ncome in Zulu and Bloedrivier in Afrikaans. To the east of this river is the Ncome Monument and Museum Complex. The Blood River Monument and Museum Complex is located west of the river. These monuments were erected through the years to commemorate a significant battle in South African history.

Getting to the Battle of Blood River Memorial

The Ncome-Blood River Heritage Site is located 43 km from Dundee, 24km from Nquthu and 72 km from Vryheid. The site is signposted with Blood River, Ncome or Blood River/Ncome signs.

Battle of Britain Monument history

The Battle of Britain took place between 10 July and 31 October, 1940, and was one of the most important British victories of the Second World War. Over the course of 3 months, the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy successfully defended the skies above Britain from large-scale attacks by the German Luftwaffe.

British defeat would have likely resulted in a German invasion from the newly-captured ports of France, instilling the Battle of Britain as a key moment in the war. The superior equipment of the British airforce coupled with the Germans’ lack of a consistent plan of action led to the latter’s defeat however, with almost double the amount of Luftwaffe to RAF planes shot down in the first month. The eventual British victory prevented a naval invasion by Hitler, and helped to ensure the future success of the Allies in the war.

Largely funded by private donations, the Battle of Britain Monument was conceived by Bill Bond, founder of the Battle of Britain Historical Society. The containing structure previously served as a smoke outlet for steam-powered underground trains, yet following its disuse was utilised as the base of the monument. The monument’s bronze centrepiece was cast at the Morris Singer Foundry, the same foundry that cast Landseer’s lions that sit at the base of Nelson’s Column.

Battle of Britain Monument today

Opened in 2005, the 25-metre wide monument was purposely built ‘at people level’ so passers-by could interact with it. A series of friezes depict scenes from the battle as well as scenes from both military and civilian life at that time, while all airmen credited with flying combat missions during the battle are inscribed on bronze plaques.

Across the bottom reads a quote from one of Winston Churchill’s most famous speeches, epitomising the significance of the battle: ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’

The stunningly detailed bronze centrepiece is entitled ‘Scramble’, and depicts the rush of pilots to their planes, ready to intercept enemy aircraft intent on destroying London. With its picturesque position alongside the Thames, the monument provides a moment of contemplation and appreciation for those who fought and died in the first battle to take place entirely by air force.

Getting to the Battle of Britain Monument

The Battle of Britain Monument is located on Victoria Embankment in London. The nearest Underground station is Westminster, a 4-minute walk away, while the nearest train station is Waterloo, a 20-minute walk away. A number of buses stop nearby, with the closest stops at Westminster Pier, a 2-minute walk away, and the Banqueting House, a 7-minute walk away.