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World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York


World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Photograph © Larry Harris

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York


World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York


World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York


World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York

Robin Weiner/WirePix

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Robin Weiner/WirePix

Robin Weiner/WirePix

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Robin Weiner/WirePix

Robin Weiner/WirePix

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Relatives, friends and colleagues of people who died during the World Trade Center attacks assemble around the "Circle of Honor" at Ground Zero, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002. (Robin Weiner/Medialink)

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Relatives of people who died walk down to the "Circle of Honor", Sept. 11, 2002. One by one, the 2,801 names on the city list of the dead were read during the morning ceremony. (Robin Weiner/Medialink)

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Representatives from various organizations surround the "Circle of Honor" at Ground Zero during a ceremony marking the one year anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. (Robin Weiner/Medialink)

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Bagpipe-and-drum units march down West Street towards Ground Zero for the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in Lower Manhattan. (Robin Weiner/Medialink)

World Trade Center (New York), World Trade Center, New York
Relatives, friends and colleagues of people who died during the World Trade Center attacks assemble around the "Circle of Honor" at Ground Zero, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002. (Robin Weiner/Medialink)

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World Trade Center (New York)

Designed by: Minoru Yamasaki, Yamasaki and Associates, with Emery Roth and Sons
Construction Start: 1969
Construction Completed: 1974
Cost: US$800,000,000.00
Type: Demolished
Stories: 110
Maximum Height: Tower one - 1,709 feet / 521 meters (with television mast), Tower two - 1,363 feet / 415 meters
 (including spires, antennae, etc...)
Location: World Trade Center
Area: World Trade Center
City: New York, New York

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     The World Trade Center is a collection of buildings in lower Manhattan. Towers number one and two (the "Twin Towers") were considered the tallest in the world by some people. It depends on how you define "tallest." Including the antenna, tower number one was 521 meters tall. However, including the antenna may also bring building-less antennae and towers into the running, which really mucks things up. The center was constructed on the site of the old Hudson and Manhattan rail terminal. The original plan called for a single 150-story tower, but this design was abandoned as impractical.

The twin towers were unusual in that the outer cladding of the building actually carried a large part of the load for the structure. Each floor was suspended from the external walls, rather than the other way around, which is common in most skyscrapers where internal pillars provide the strength, and the walls merely keep the wind out. While intended to provide strength while maximizing rentable office space, this actually proved to be a lifesaving innovation. When each tower was hit by hijacked jumbo jets in 2001 the planes punched holes in the side and did extensive damage inside. But the buildings stayed standing for some time. It was actually the heat from the fire that caused the buildings to collapse. The jets were fully loaded with fuel for transcontinental flight, providing a massive amount of fuel to feed the fire. When the heat inside exceeded 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit the steel holding the floors to the walls weakened, causing each floor to collapse onto the one below. The result was the buildings imploded upon themselves, rather than fell over knocking over countless other buildings in a literal domino-effect.
The following buildings were partially or completely destroyed in the attack:
One World Trade Center (north tower)
Two World Trade Center (south tower)
Four World Trade Center
Five World Trade Center
Six World Trade Center
Seven World Trade Center
The Marriott Hotel
One Liberty Plaza
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

The following buildings suffered major damage:
The Millennium Hilton Hotel
One World Financial Center
Two World Financial Center
Three World Financial Center
The Federal Building
Banker's Trust Building

> 1973 - A ribbon cutting ceremony is held to open the twin towers, however they were not yet complete and construction would continue into the following year.
* There were sky lobbies on the 41st and 71st floors.
* Tower number one had a restaurant on the 107th floor.
* Tower number two had observation decks on the 107th and 110th floors.
* 181,400 metric tons of steel was used to build the towers.
* The towers had 43,600 windows.
* There were 93 elevators in the two buildings.
* In 1974 a tightrope walker walked between the two towers.
* Owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
* 11 September, 2001 - The Twin Towers are destroyed by terrorists. They hijacked two jumbo jets from Boston and slammed one into each of the towers, killing 3,000 people. A third hijacked jet was rammed into the Pentagon in Washington, DC; and a fourth crashed in a rural area 80 miles east southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
o 8:45am - Hijacked American Airlines Boeing 767 hits the north tower.
o 9:03am - Hijacked United Airlines Boeing 767 hits south tower.
o 9:50am - South tower collapses.
o 10:30am - North tower collapses.
o 11:40am - New York Fire Department pulls our of Seven World Trade Center as fire rages uncontrolled through the skyscraper.
o 5:25pm - Seven World Trade Center collapses.
o It is estimated that the jets hit the buildings going between 470 and 590-miles-an-hour.
o It takes 99 days to put out the fire.
o 18 people are pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center still alive.
o The city of New York loses 13,000,000 square feet of office space -- more than all the office space in Miami, and more than the entire space of downtown Houston.
o 83,000 people lose their jobs in the ensuing economic turmoil.
o 105 children never see their fathers because they were conceived before, and born after the terrorist attacks.
* 14 September, 2001 - There is serious talk among politicians and New York City leaders about rebuilding the Twin Towers better, and possibly bigger, than before.
* 25 September, 2001 - One of the last remaining large sections of the building's exoskeleton is demolished. Part of it is saved by the city for possible use in a memorial, museum, or monument.
* 22 October, 2001 - the 53-story One Liberty Plaza reopens.
* 1 December, 2001 - Britain’s SR International Business Insurance Company, Limited is suing over the 11 September, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. SR International is one of the companies that insured the Twin Towers. It wants a court to rule that the attacks were a single incident, and not two separate attacks. If successful, the companies will only have to pay the developer US$3,600,000,000.00 for the single attack, rather than US$7,200,000,000.00 if it is ruled to be two attacks. Larry Silverstein plans to use the money to rebuild the World Trade Center complex. US$3.6 billion is enough to do it, but obviously US$7.2 billion would provide more flexibility.
* 4 December, 2001 - CNN reports that the US$300,000,000.00 donated to the September 11th Fund is going to some organizations that the donors might not expect. Among those getting the money: The Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, AIDS activist organization Mother's Voices; the Jennifer Muller modern dance group; The Institute for the Development of Earth Awareness, and the performing arts group Three Legged Dog. The CNN report featured a screen from Three Legged Dog's web site showing a dominatrix.
* 12 December, 2001 - Questions are raised about the floor joists in the World Trade Center. Tests done in the 1990's suggest that they were not adequately fireproofed. The engineer who supervised construction of the World Trade Center insists the fireproofing met the highest standards and was not a factor in the collapse of the towers.
* 17 December, 2001 - One of the mysteries of the 11 September, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York may have been solved. Engineers have puzzled over why the 47-story 7 World Trade Center collapsed seven hours after the Twin Towers fell. It turns out, the culprit may have been the mayor’s emergency command bunker inside. The New York Times reports that the building had several hidden caches of diesel fuel to power generators for the command bunker. It was stored in and under the building and may have caught fire, weakening the structure in the same way that thousands of gallons of jet fuel weakened the steel in the Twin Towers. According to the Times, there was a 6,000 gallon tank on the second floor, and four tanks holding up to 36,000 gallons of fuel in the basement.
* 18 December, 2001 - To honor those killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, President Bush has created a new holiday. September 11th will now be known as Patriot Day.
* 18 December, 2001 - A group of relatives of those killed in the September, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center have chosen to blame the building, instead of the terrorists, for the deaths. They are demanding that the Federal Emergency Management Agency launch an investigation into the event, and the design and construction of the Twin Towers. In their opinion, the towers should have been designed to withstand the impact of a pair of jumbo jets and the intense heat created by the burning of thousands of gallons of aviation fuel. Some engineers believe the Twin Towers fireproofing was inadequate. Others say it met strict safety standards and no fireproofing could withstand a blaze that hot raging for as long as it did. Some relatives believe the plane is to blame and should have withstood a 500-mile-an-hour impact.
* 19 December, 2001 - After more than three months, the rubble of the World Trade Center has stopped smoking. New York Governor George Pataki announced that the fires are finally out. A fire truck remains on the scene as hot spots continue to flare up when debris is moved.
* 20 December, 2001 - The number of people killed and missing in the attack on the World Trade Center has been lowered once again. The tally is now 2,789. Early estimates were as high as 6,700 but that number has been falling because many names were duplicated, or the people in question turned up elsewhere.
* 20 December, 2001 - A New Hampshire woman has become the first to sue an airline for the September, 2001 terrorist attacks. USA Today reports Ellen Mariani is taking United Airlines to court. She claims it was the airline’s negligence that led to the death of her husband when the jet he was on was taken over by hijackers and slammed into the World Trade Center.
* 21 December, 2001 - CBS News reports the U.S. Government has come up with a mathematical formula for compensating the families of the victims of the September, 2001 terrorist attacks. Essentially, the government uses the victim’s annual salary, adds an amount for pain and suffering, subtracts aid already received in the form of life insurance government assistance or pensions. The final amount is tax-free, and recipients are allowed to keep any private charitable assistance they receive. The lowest amount anyone would receive is US$300,000.00. The most: US$3,800,000.00. The average award is expected to be US$1,600,000.00. In order to collect, the recipients must agree not to sue anyone.
* 25 December, 2001 - The United Nations estimates that the attacks on America and their economic ramifications put 24,000,000 people around the world out of work, and pushed another 15,000,000 deeper into poverty.
* 30 December, 2001 - The public can now get a better view of Ground Zero without bothering recovery crews at the site of what used to be the World Trade Center in Manhattan. Fox News Channel reports that a platform has been erected overlooking the site. Tourists will be allowed onto the platform for viewing sessions 400 at a time.
* 10 January, 2002 - Recovery crews reach a milestone. 1,000,000 tons of debris have been removed.
* 10 January, 2002 - Crews at the World Trade Center site in New York have uncovered a PATH commuter train in the rubble. It was one of several buried when the twin towers collapsed. No one was on board at the time because the train was out of service. When jets hit the towers, the subway and PATH station was evacuated and all of the trains sent back to New Jersey.
* 14 January, 2002 - City Hall Park reopens to the public.
* 14 January, 2002 - Crain's New York Business reports the owner of Seven World Trade Center will rebuild the 47-story building.
* 15 January, 2002 - A controversy has arisen over a World Trade Center memorial statue. Fox News Channel reports it would depict the famous scene shot by a New Jersey newspaper photographer when three New York City firefighters standing on a smoldering pile of debris raised an American flag. The proposed state would depict a white man, a black man, and an Hispanic man. In reality, it was three white firefighters who carried out the act. Critics say it’s an attempt to rewrite history, a slap in the face of those men, and an example of political correctness gone too far.
* 17 January, 2002 - Minnesota Public Radio reports that much of the debris from the collapse of the World Trade Center will be recycled. A company is picking through the rubble at the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island. Some of the steel is so dense and strong that one linear foot weighs over 1,000 pounds. It will be melted down and used for things like automobiles and other buildings.
* 29 January, 2002 - The New York Post reports that a dozen Port Authority employees have been charged with stealing almost $20,000.00 from relief funds set up for the survivors of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The workers told aid workers that their homes were damaged and that they were unable to work since the attacks, when in reality they were gainfully employed.
* 10 February, 2002 - Five months after the Twin Towers collapsed, the bodies of five Port Authority police officers have been found. They were helping an obese woman escape from the World Trade Center when the building collapsed, killing them all.
* 11 February, 2002 - A study of air samples taken in lower Manhattan in the weeks after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center shows record pollution. Much of the harmful particles are sulfur and silicon which became airborne when tons of jet fuel and glass burned. According to the University of California, the levels were even higher than those experienced by Gulf War troops who later complained of mysterious ailments.
* 7 March, 2002 - CNN reports that there are concerns about the speed of the World Trade Center cleanup. It is currently ahead of schedule, and some say it's happening too fast. They fear that evidence is being destroyed as the buildings' remains are melted down for scrap.
* 11 March, 2002 - 8:46am - Exactly six months after the terrorist attacks a memorial service is held. At dusk, two powerful beams of light are illuminated from 88 bulbs to create a pair of shafts rising into the sky as a memorial to those who died.
* 30 April, 2002 - Plans are bring drawn up for rebuilding the area now known as "Ground Zero." Six different plans incorporating a memorial, office, retail, and mobility are due by July. A final plan will be put together by December, 2002.
* 1 May, 2002 - A report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency concludes that the strength of the Twin Towers helped save thousands of lives. The report says it may never be possible to build a fireproof building, but applauds the towers and their creators for the fact that they managed to stay standing as long as they did even after being hit by passenger jets.
* 13 May, 2002 - American Express employees return to the World Financial Center.
* 21 May, 2002 - The New Mexico Business Journal reports that two steel beams from the World Trade Center have been donated to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Albuquerque. They will be used to construct a US$100,000.00 bell tower as a memorial to the victims of the September 11th attacks.
* 30 May, 2002 - 10:29am - In a solemn ceremony, cleanup ends at the former site of the World Trade Center. Workers used rakes to comb the dirt for any last pieces of the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks, but 850 people are still missing and will probably never be found. In all, 20,000 body parts were recovered. 1,800,000 tons of rubble was removed. The last steel beam was cut down and draped with an America flag as it left the site, symbolizing those who had been lost, but not found. The beam and a procession of New York police and firemen moved through the streets of lower Manhattan while crowds of people watched in person, and millions watched on televisions around the world.
* 14 June, 2002 - An American flag found in ther debris of the World Trade Center is returned to New York for Flag Day after being taken into orbit on the space shuttle Endeavour.
* 24 June, 2002 - The last of the body recovery crews leaves Ground Zero. All hope of finding any more human remains is lost.
* 7 July, 2002 - A detailed review of the events of September 11, 2001 shows that the communications network used by New York firefighters during the World Trade Cneter attacks failed repeatedly. Police helicopters warned that the north tower would collapse 21 minutes before it happened, but that information naver made it to fire department personnel, who lost their lives when the tower came down.
* 1 July, 2002 - Deadline for proposals for the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site.
* 1 September, 2002 - Finalists chosen in the competition for the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site.
* 1 December, 2002 - A final plan will be chosen for the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site.
* 15 July, 2002 - The Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island is closed. It was the site where rubble from the World Trade Center was processed for evidence and human remains. A solemn ceremony is held.
* 16 July, 2002 - Six plans for rebuilding the World Trade Center are unveiled. None of the buildings will be taller than the originals.
* 20 July, 2002 - 4,000 people gather at the Javits Convention Center to see the proposals for the new World Trade Center. They don't like what they see, calling it boring, uninspiring, and unworthy of the site's historic legacy. Designers say they had little choice since the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey required that all of the rentable floor space from the original center be recreated.
* 21 July, 2002 - The people leading the rebuilding of the World Trade Center decide to re-think the requirement that all of the commercial space be recreated.
* 24 July, 2002 - KMBC-TV/Kansas City reports that a two-inch replica of a Kansas CIty Chiefs football has been found in the rubble by police sergeant Michel Mayer. It is believed to have come from someone's desk in the World Trade Center, and has now been returned to the football team.
* 24 July, 2002 - The New York Times reports that in spite of grants, and cheaper rent, the city is still having a hard time keeping businesses from moving out of lower Manhattan.
* 25 July, 2002 - The House of Representatives votes to hold a special Congressional session in New York on 6 September, 2002.
* 26 July, 2002 - The last of 5,000 yards of cement is poured for the new subway station beneath Ground Zero. Contractors worked around the clock to get the job done ahead of schedule and reap a US$3,000,000.00 bonus from the federal government.
* 29 July, 2002 - After being soundly thrashed for having uninteresting ideas for rebuilding the World Trade Center, the competition has been opened up to more architects.
* 30 July, 2002 - CBS News reports that millions of dollars given to the Red Cross to aid victims and families of the September 11th terrorist attacks will never make it to the people who deserve it. The problem is that the money was given to local Red Cross offices across the country, and quite a few kept it for themselves. Blame poor record keeping, and the ability of the local offices to selfishly "code" national donations as being for local emergencies.
* 4 August, 2002 - The New York Times reports that the real estate company that controls the World Trade Center lease lost US$8,200,000,000.00 in the attacks.
* 5 August, 2002 - 66 people are arrested, dozens more are charged and thousands expected to be charged with fraud. When communications were knocked out during the attacks, the Municipal Credit Union allowed people to make ATM withdrawals without verifying the amount available in their accounts. Some people took advantage of the situation to the tune of US$15,000,000.00. These are obviously not the brightest people in the world, since they took money out of their own accounts and since it was an employee credit union, the bank knows where they live, where they work, and how to find them.
* 6 August, 2002 - The City of New York unveils its plans for 11 September, 2002. They include bagpipers marching to ground zero, a visit from President Bush, and the reading of the name of every person killed in the terrorist attacks. Ideas from people all over the world were taken into account. The family members of those killed will lay roses at ground zero -- an idea inspired by someone in Australia. And at the suggestion of someone in Illinois, there will be concerts at sunset in all five boroughs.
* 15 August, 2002 - A plaque is unveiled containing the names of all 2,801 people who died at the World Trade Center The "Wall of Rememberance" overlooks Ground Zero.
* 20 August, 2002 - The number of those killed at the World Trade Center has been revised to 2,819. Four names were dropped from the list. One, a woman who was listed under both her maiden and married name; the other three are just names with no contact information for the medical examiner to follow up on.
* 21 August, 2002 - The National Institute of Standards and Technology begins a two-year test of the beams recovered at Ground Zero. The government agency is spending US$23,000,000.00 to analyze 100 pieces recovered and figure out why the towers fell.
* 22 August, 2002 - WCBS-TV reports the governors of New York and New Jersey want to rename Newark International Airport in New Jersey "Liberty International Airport" in honor of those killed in the terrorist attacks.
* 26 August, 2002 - Two more names are removed from the list of the deceased. One man was found in a hospital suffering from amnesia. Another was found in a mental institution.
* 3 September, 2002 - The New York Times reports that lower Manhattan is now more vulnerable to lightning strikes because of the destruction of the World Trade Center. Previously, the huge towers would ground lightning strikes for a wide part of the island. With the buildings gone, others are being hit that were never hit before.
* 10 September, 2002 - The Standard and Poors futures index closes at 911.00.
* 11 September, 2002 - The nation, and the world pauses to remember the terrorist attacks one year ago. Tens of thousands of public and private ceremonies are held from New York to Russia to Antarctica.
* 11 September, 2002 - The New York State Lottery Pick Three numbers on this date are 9, 1, and 1.
* 15 September, 2002 - Three subway stations closed by the collapse of the Twin Towers have reopened. The South Ferry, Rector Street, and Cortlandt Street stations were severely damaged. Repairs cost US$100,000,000.00.
* 9 December, 2002 - The National Institute of Standards and Technology asks the public to submit copies of all of their World Trade Center collapse photographs and video so they can be studied to determine exactly how and why the towers failed.
* 25 December, 2002 - WABC-TV (7) reports that some of the beams from the World Trade Center may be melted down and used in the bow of the Navy's new U.S.S. New York, under construction in Mississippi. The steel has already been dug up from the Fresh Kills landfill and is being tested to see if it is usable.
* 27 February, 2003 - The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey choose the design by Studio Daniel Libeskind of Berlin, Germany to replace the World Trade Center. It will erect the world’s tallest building – a 1,776-foot-tall spire highlighted by a dramatic vertical garden in the sky. The Libeskind design was judged to be best overall based on 12 criteria including price, public response, vision, connectivity, public space, and how the victims of the September 11th attacks would be memorialized. That memorial will be a large open pit representing Ground Zero and the “bathtub” where the remains of many of the victims were found. The bathtub is a subterranean concrete structure designed to keep the water from flooding the basement of the World Trade Center. But it became sacred ground to many as more and more bodies were pulled from the debris.
* 27 February, 2003 - The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have chosen which design will be built to replace the World Trade Center in New York. After months of deliberation, public hearings, and community input the committee decided on the design by Studio Daniel Libeskind of Berlin, Germany which will erect the world’s tallest building – a 1,776-foot-tall spire highlighted by a dramatic vertical garden in the sky. The Libeskind design was judged to be best overall based on 12 criteria including price, public response, vision, connectivity, public space, and how the victims of the September 11th attacks would be memorialized. That memorial will be a large open pit representing Ground Zero and the “bathtub” where the remains of many of the victims were found. The bathtub is a subterranean concrete structure designed to keep the water from flooding the basement of the World Trade Center. But it became sacred ground to many as more and more bodies were pulled from the debris.
* 17 March, 2003 - The Sacramento Bee reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was wrong when it told people the air near Ground Zero in New York was safe to breathe after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. The newspaper cites an internal E.P.A. investigation that found the agency used a scale that would have allowed air 100 times more contaminated than current safety ratings to be considered safe. The Mount Sinai Medical Center has since found that more than half of the people working at Ground Zero suffered from breathing problems a year later.
* 24 April, 2003 - New York governor George Pataki has outlined his timeline for progress on the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, now called the Freedom Tower. He believes the steel superstructure of the tower should be complete by 11 September, 2006. His vision also includes the opening of the PATH and Fulton transit centers by that date, and significant work on the World Trade Center memorial. The New York Times reports that the governor wants his office to be the first tenant in the new skyscraper, which he believes should be finished in 2008.
* 8 May, 2003 - A judge rules that Osma bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, and others owe the families of two World Trade Center victims US$104,000,000.00.
* 8 May, 2003 - The New York Times reports that the twin towers of the World Trade Center may never have been tested for fire. Basic tests are needed to ensure that a skyscraper is safe. In spite of decades of assurances from the Port Authroity of New York and New Jersey, federal investigators believe that fire tests were not done on the towers. The massive fire is believed to be the root cause for the collapse of the two towers -- not the impact of a pair of jumbo jets.
* 24 June, 2003 - Hugo Martinez becomes the first person to die at the World Trade Center site since the September 11, 2001 attacks. The construction worker was crushed to death by a piece of steel.
* 8 September, 2003 - The last firefighter killed in the World Trade Center collapse has been laid to rest. Michael Ragusa's remains were never found, so a vial of his blood donated to a bone marrow center was placed in a coffin for the funeral. In all, 343 firefighters lost their lives when the Twin Towers came down.
* 29 April, 2004 - A judge rules that the pair of attacks on the Twin Towers was one event, and thus the owner can only collect on his insurance policy once. * 4 July, 2004 - Groundbreaking for the Twin Towers replacement: The Freedom Tower.
* 16 December, 2004 - The World Trade Center victims memorial is revised. The new plan includes a Memorial Hall between the reflecting pools that will mark the footprints of the former World Trade Center. It will also include a grove of oak trees with a clearing for memorial services, and public access to the stumps of the columns that once held the Twin Towers aloft. The memorial is expected to cost US$500,000.00 and be completed by 2009.
> April 18, 2008 - Pope Benedict XVI blesses the ground where the World Trade Center's twin towers once stood.

Quotations:
"12/29/01
May we never forget those lost here and may they always rest in peace.
Bernard B. Kerlik NYPD"
Graffiti scrawled on a wooden railing of the observation platform at Ground Zero by New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerlik

" We will never build where the towers stood "
-New York Governor George Pataki, 1 July, 2002

"...I sometimes don't want to believe it really happened. The only thing is I can't forget was the sound of the steel just before the first tower fell. I knew what was happening at just that moment, even though my view was obstructed my the building directly across from me. I was on the 22nd floor roof, I had just returned from the front of the WTC where a firemen told me he didn't need my help but to just get out of the street and get away from the building. I went back to 2 Chase where the men were still up on the roof and was telling them to get off the roof when I heard the sound of steel riping. I knew the building was coming down and said, "Oh My God." When I looked over the roof wall I could believe the cloud of dust and debris that was already coming up the building toward me. We all ran and just made it inside the roof door! We'll it got crazy from then on in! What really surprised me was that people didn't panic the way I thought they would. Even later that day walking almost 200 blocks home on the FDR Drive people were in shock and disbelief, but it wasn't panic.Hundreds of thousands of people on the FDR Drive walking in a way I can't explain. We were at war and under attack and people helping each other just trying to get home and let friends and loved ones know they were alright. We are a powerful nation and that day showed me something about this nation, we can survive anything!"

-Louis Briendel, The Bronx

"About 15 floors down from the top, it looks like it's glowing red... It's inevitable."
-Aviation 14 (New York City police helicopter)

"I don't think this has too much longer to go. I would evacuate all people within the area of that second building."
-Another police pilot.
Both quotes as transcribed from police tapes by the New York Times, 7 July, 2002.

Related Web Sites:
Discuss the architecture of World Trade Center (New York) and other buildings in New York.
Freedom Tower - Twin Towers replacement, New York
World Trade Center Transportation Hub, New York
Reflecting Absence - World Trade Center 9/11 Memorial
Two World Trade Center, New York
Three World Trade Center, New York
Four World Trade Center, New York

Last 50 Comments Daniel Wood - Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 @ 5:35pm • Rating: Five stars.

It is really sad and if you dont think of it being sad, you could of been the one dying in pain, and jumping out windows, and even dying without seeing your kids, wife, husband, family, or even your best friend. Well I hope they rebuild the building. Im sorry for your friends and family that died in the building.

Jane - Friday, April 18th, 2008 @ 1:01pm • Rating: Five stars.

We MUST rebuild the towers and they must be exactly the same height and they should be built to the exact same size to show those sissies in the middle east that we CANT BE DESTROYEDGOD BLESS AMERICA and the people of new york city

Philip Hamlin - Saturday, April 5th, 2008 @ 8:05pm • Rating: Five stars.

I am sorry to be never able to never stand on these great structures but I am more sorry for the loss of life.

John Symons - Sunday, February 10th, 2008 @ 7:15pm • Rating: Five stars.

My wife and I visited New York and thoroughly enjoyed that magnificant city that never sleeps. It is hard to imagine what the city now looks like after 9/11 and my heart goes out to you. Move on and rebuild as you are doing, bigger, stronger and indeed impressive. God bless you all. John

Jake - Thursday, January 17th, 2008 @ 5:56am • Rating: Five stars.

remarkable building, to be remembered forever and always. god bless america, and the people that died

john - Thursday, December 27th, 2007 @ 3:59pm • Rating: Five stars.

i have been to new york many times but all after 9/11. i remember seeing those magnificient towers shadowing over the big apple. they were an awesome sight to behold. i only ever wished i could of seen the for real. the new york skyline will never be the same without them. i am an irish male wishing to be a proud american . god bless u all and never let those terrorist win.

obum - Wednesday, December 26th, 2007 @ 5:40am • Rating: Five stars.

it was really hard for me to believe but may God bless all those that lost their lives in 9/11.may their soul rest in peace.AMEN

Nik - Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 @ 9:30am • Rating: Four stars.

My condolence to all families and vicims involved on this situation

Bobby Bath - Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 @ 1:27pm • Rating: Five stars.

god has a plan for us all that day was filled with pain and horror,one that we will never should forget to the people who lost family members that day my heart goes out to you an i hope that somehow you will be able to carry on with your life in a way that would make lost one feel proud of you God Bless

Webs - Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 @ 6:34pm • 
I went to ground zero and I cried. The people of New York and the rest of us who fight for the U.S.A. are so brave and proud. God Bless all the victims of 9/11 and to all the troops fighting for our freedom.

shweta - Monday, October 15th, 2007 @ 7:05am • Rating: Four stars.

Still i heard the voice of the persons who were the witnesses of the terrible.....blast.I pray to God that... Those terrible history may not repeat again.

Andrew Walker - Monday, August 13th, 2007 @ 7:58pm • Rating: Five stars.

This act will not be forgotten, and whilst there are thsoe who may squabble over the legalities of our nation's current wars one thing remains strong, freedom will win - Britian and America have fought side by side for 70 years against those who persecute and discriminate, those who control and manipulate and those who commit unspeakable acts and masacre those because of their beliefs or colour of their skin. Liberty and Democracy are choices - but choices which everyone should have the right to make! Long live America and Long live Britain - together defending the ideals of freedom!

Jason - Sunday, July 29th, 2007 @ 9:51pm • 
I am feeling so sorry for all the people that lost their lives that day. It was so sad. I will never forget about the World Trade Center and all the people that lost their families that day. I want New York to be rebuilt another day for a sweet memory and for the terrorists to know that only America is the best! So please rebuilt the twin towers so the terrorists can know that they will never succeed even if they try! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!

Jacob - Saturday, July 21st, 2007 @ 5:01pm • Rating: Five stars.

Beautiful presentation but must say what a day. i sat there watching many individuals removed from what life had to offer. god has a plan, he has his reasons

KAPIL - Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 @ 1:38pm • 
The twin Towers should be rebuild agian taller than before,, that will give the message to terrors, their attacks will not be changed the actual strength of America. God Bless America & Americans

hayden palmer - Sunday, July 15th, 2007 @ 4:54am • Rating: Three stars.

i think that the people whe comitted this act should pay. we should fight back againt these sick people! we will win this war no matter what!

nancy gonzalez - Monday, June 25th, 2007 @ 7:26pm • 
up to this day i still remember the morning of september/11/2001 like if it just hapen that was the sadest morning and all that inocent people that left this world will always be in the memories of each AMERICAN CITIZEN GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL THE INOCENT PEOPLE THAT US LOST AND THERE FAMILIES.

Jennifer - Thursday, June 14th, 2007 @ 5:27pm • Rating: Five stars.

9/11 was such a tragic day. I say build the SAME two towers, prove to everyone that they can never take them down.

ernie - Monday, May 28th, 2007 @ 9:11am • Rating: Five stars.

we still shed a tear for Americas loss on that terrible day.We must all hold our heads up and be proud of our great nations.Great Britain will always stand by you America!God bless America God save the Queen

Princess - Thursday, May 24th, 2007 @ 2:30pm • 
I feel very sad about the distruction of the WTC by heartless people. God will judge the. Bush my man, do not worry, make urgent plans to re-build it is a pride of the USA.

Dayanand sutar - Sunday, May 20th, 2007 @ 7:29am • Rating: Four stars.

I think this act of terrorism is disgusting act of socciety from that time when i heard this news. Till this time I feel very bad about it, I cant just believe its in true, just I wantend to which you that GOD BLESS YOU NEW YORK. We pray forever.

ashley biddlecome - Friday, May 4th, 2007 @ 1:42pm • Rating: Four stars.

this is really sad i wish it didnt happen it is sad i have the movie and i havent had a chance to watch it yet but i probably will watch it this weekend

Pawel Slabiak - Thursday, April 19th, 2007 @ 5:43am • 
my heart and my feellings are always with the victims. I was there after 6 years i could not stop the tears....

Heba - Tuesday, April 10th, 2007 @ 11:39pm • Rating: Four stars.

9/11 is a day that will NEVER be forgotten. I remember feeling numb and couldn´t believe my eyes when I watched tha attack on TV that very day. It was like watching a movie yet it was actually happening in real life, what a horrible nightmare. My heart goes out to the people who lost their lives and their loved ones. God bless.

susan - Sunday, April 1st, 2007 @ 12:19am • 
I still cry at the thought we went thought this. But it was bound to happen.With what they were doing years before.But we cant forget this.We the USA were not the only ones hurt by this. Each county had people living in and around new york. yes even people who live over there.everyone was hurt.GOD BLESS

jose gonza;ez - Wednesday, March 28th, 2007 @ 12:32pm • Rating: Five stars.

i loved those twin tower i cried when i seen that happend so sad god bless america and the twin towers i love you new york

Haleigh - Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 @ 10:47am • 
This will stay with the people of the United States forever.

Eddie - Sunday, March 11th, 2007 @ 1:16am • Rating: Five stars.

I will never forget that tragic day of September 11,2001. Even though it sickens me everytime I look at the NYC skyline and to feel the pain and emptyness, I feel that the Freedom tower will be a great symbol of American freedom and our will power to stand up to those skumbag Arabs that did this. I went to NYC twice and I went to the WTC. I went all the way up Tower 1, to the roof, and just to know that I will probably never have a moment like that again makes me sad. God bless America and to all those who died on 9/11 and those who are curently fighting for our Freedom!

Brian - Wednesday, February 28th, 2007 @ 7:42pm • Rating: Five stars.

This building was outstanding. Should have been re built the same, just to show the world that the cowards that destroyed the WTC cant ever win.

margie - Saturday, February 24th, 2007 @ 5:08am • Rating: Two stars.

went to the site july 2006. cried me a river of tears for the brave people lost and for the ones who lived. why build a new tower leave it as a garden.

Intan - Friday, February 23rd, 2007 @ 9:30am • 
God save the America.God bless those that died and injured in this horrible act.They killed over 2000 people for no reason.I belive that the terrorist should pay for what they did.I belive on KARMA.Let God judge them for what they did.God Save America.

Dan - Thursday, February 15th, 2007 @ 9:18pm • Rating: Five stars.

Like most things in life can be repaired. Cars, Computers, Children, Adults and yes-even buildings. We can over take it (the problem) or the problem can over take us. You have the People, The Equipment, Knowledge, Money and the WILL to WIN. You can and should. God Bless

Daniel Choe - Wednesday, January 31st, 2007 @ 4:48pm • Rating: Five stars.

I feel the same way as everyone else does. Why did the terrorists do that? It accomplished nothing. Absolutely nothing!

Tom - Saturday, January 20th, 2007 @ 12:15pm • Rating: Five stars.

My Great Uncle helped construct this masterpiece and not only do i love the building, I love how a nation responded to the evil of a few freaks who think that the us is bad. Who knew two giant pillars of concrete could create so much patriotism in Amercia. Never Forget 9/11

Marianne Clayton - Monday, January 8th, 2007 @ 7:24pm • Rating: Four stars.

Even as a Canadian i have deep feelings for what happened on the dark day of September 11, 2001 in New York City. I still get a lump in my throat today when looking at images of the twin towers that had smoke billowing out of them like they were two giant matches!! I was so moved with all the volunteer rescue workers that help clean the rubble & search for bodies....they truly are the hand of god!! But I still think of those that parished in on 9/11 & how inicent these people were & how they didnt deserve to die the way they did...all I can say is KARMA!!! ~RIP~ to those that passed on that day!!

pieter bergsma - Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007 @ 11:28am • Rating: Five stars.

The WTC was a great building. But the new Freedom Tower will be a great tribute for all who has lost their lives on 9-11

Pedro - Thursday, December 21st, 2006 @ 8:20am • 
peace for all that people witch died that day!

sudhakar manchala - Thursday, December 21st, 2006 @ 7:32am • Rating: One star.

Iam really sorry for my late condolence.Godbless America and Americans

Beth Luiz - Thursday, December 14th, 2006 @ 4:41am • Rating: Five stars.

To all that passed on, you will always be remembered and missed! To those who survived you will always be thankfull for life and to those who hurt our nation you too will always always be remembered and never forgotten and we will conquer and prevail for our nation is one of a kind and nothing can stop us! WE ARE THE PEOPLE and we work together to live!

Terry Lee Webb - Sunday, December 10th, 2006 @ 11:35am • Rating: Five stars.

God bless those that died and were injured in this horrible act of madness. Those that did this have lost their humanity long ago. The United States is in a War for its very survival. The good Lord willing, we will win the fight against third-world tyrants and subhumans.

Lizbeth Paguyo - Wednesday, November 8th, 2006 @ 11:54pm • Rating: Five stars.

New twin towers shouldrebuild? Why? Because World Trade Center belong to New York.Taller than before.Stronger and fireproof.More than 110 stories.I remember 9/11/01old twin towers wasdestroyed by two planes.I never forget forever!!I hope I will see newtwin towers of world trade center by 2012!!

Julie Pearsoll - Monday, October 23rd, 2006 @ 8:59pm • Rating: Four stars.

The U.S. gives to countries of need and helps when needed, why we were able to get help to sri lanka faster than we were able to get help to New Orleans, anyway,what does that have to do with the twin towers.??They were the most beautiful buildings, offering a sight maybe an insight into what was in front of you, if you looked deep and far enough you might see a light or a thousand lights. Day or night, the beauty, the the Brooklyn Bridge, several comments above indicate less, but, these, people have obviously never known freedom, peace, love, friendship and peace of heart. GOD BLESS AMERICA. and I pray for every soldier who serves, and gives and the people who write the negative.Your brother, sister, friend, could have been in that building

Blue Hawk - Monday, September 25th, 2006 @ 12:33am • 
Newyork is my favourite city in the whole world...its better to build two freedom towers instead of one, and its better to capture osama bin laden (the cockroach) and bring him to the top of freedom tower then thrown him out and let the world see what will happen to him. by the way osama bin laden is not a hero as some people think, He is a criminal, he distort the meaning of islam.islam is the religion of peace. god bless america and every place else.

marvin oliva - Wednesday, September 20th, 2006 @ 2:49am • Rating: Five stars.

the world trade center may have fallen into pieces but the UNITY and COURAGE of the american people will always prevail even in the most destructive force of evil.its a symbol of GREATNESS. MARTYRDOM for those who have perished...

shayanne - Friday, September 15th, 2006 @ 2:37pm • 
let god be with the people who died and be rememberd.

Nelson Loo - Tuesday, September 12th, 2006 @ 5:40am • Rating: Five stars.

I wish this kind of Human made disaster will never ever happen again! God bless American. (Peace for the 5th year)

Brenda Cox - Monday, September 11th, 2006 @ 11:53pm • Rating: Five stars.

I would like to see the Tower 1 & 2 back in the same spot. Ill never forget that day and who was the cause of it.

marvin - Monday, September 11th, 2006 @ 10:48pm • Rating: Five stars.

the world trade center will always be remembered as a symbol of peace,brotherhood and prosperity and Greatness not only the USA but for all MANKIND...

James Wilson - Sunday, August 20th, 2006 @ 10:48am • Rating: Five stars.

It is hard to imagine that it has been 5 years since my immediate family and I visited NYC (including the warmth of the NYC people) and the WTC area 5 months before terrorists destroyed the towers and the general area and murdered almost 3000 people. 3000 people from many countries here in this country to work, to live, to be apart of the American dream and to represent various nations and companies. Even though we may not live and work in NYC, my family has been and will always profoundly saddened about this dark event in our history, but also proud of the american spirit to grief about the fallen heroes, while rebuilding a new structure to represent America and the heroes. Having a law enforcement and military background, I will continue to have a brotherhood with the men and women that protect and serve the people of this nation, as well as, defend the innocent from criminals... foreign and domestic. God Bless America... My home sweet home.

Stephen Morier - Wednesday, July 26th, 2006 @ 12:01pm • Rating: Five stars.

As a kid, I always wanted to visit New York for many reasons, one being to see these giant buildings I'd seen my whole life on tv. I eventually made it to the USA in January 2005 and although the towers were gone - I could still visualise them and they looked great. The memory of these buildings will last forever in the minds and hearts of all of us and will remain there always.

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