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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI went to the top of One World Trade yesterday.
The "Observatory" opened a few weeks ago and I got to visit it yesterday afternoon. I was in NYC on 9/11 and saw the second building go down in person. I had been to the Twin Towers multiple times prior to 9/11. I liked walking around them and had been to the Windows on the World restaurant a couple times. I wanted to visit the Observatory to see how the building turned out.
From a few blocks away, the building reminded me of the old buildings. It was a towering structure that shot into the sky. The bottom of the building is a square just like the old buildings. I looked up when I was standing next to it and could not see the top. There's something different about standing next to that building vs. the Empire St. Building or 432 Park. It just feels bigger and more imposing.
I went in and the first place they send you is the basement. From there, you walk through an airport style security check. Then there is an area that looks like a tunnel through granite. It is meant to communicate that the building is standing on top of old NYC rock. In the tunnel area there is a video of the construction workers, managers, and others talking about what was involved in building it and what it meant to them. Some of the people speaking said that this is the most important thing they will ever work on and why the building is symbolically important. One of the comments was about how the building was built with love and it was a great place to work. The video was heavy in emotion. But there was no mention at any point in the visit to the building about 9/11. It was all about the construction and the views.
Once past the video area, I went to the elevators. The elevators were cool. The walls were made of screens. The screen showed how the city changed through the years from swamp to what it is today. NYers love their NYC history and this was a treat.
The elevator goes to the 102nd floor in around a minute. The Observatory floors are set up to maximize the money spent. On the 102nd floor you can walk through an area where a picture is taken. Then you take an escalator down to the 101st floor. This floor has popular NY food (hot dogs, pastrami, etc.). I had a hot dog which was surprisingly good. Then from there you go to the 100th floor. The 100th floor is where you can walk all the way around and see in any direction. They claim the views are "forever" and I can see why. I could see well into NJ, and probably out to Beach Channel if not Long Beach. A small plane flew by and it was only a little higher than us. Helicopters were flying beneath the observatory.
There is an area full of screens where someone presents various facts about NY. There are categories like Food, Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Money & Finance, and more. One of the categories under Money & Finance was "The One Percent." I was surprised by the category, and watched the presentation. They basically said that many NY buildings were built by titans of industry and that the money isn't always there anymore, but you can still see the money in some of the buildings today. It's pretty interesting that this major tourist attraction near Zuccotti Park was willing to use this term.
The path to the exit goes through another monetization opportunity. You have to walk right through the souvenir area to get to the bathrooms and elevators on the 100th floor. The elevator down shows the outside of the building on the screen. I really liked the elevators.
After leaving the building, I walked to the Twin Tower footprints. They are immense. They are wringed with the names of those that died. The footprints are now open to the public. Years ago you needed a ticket to get close to them and they were hard to get on the same day. There is also a 9/11 museum, but I didn't go there. There was a long line for that. Tickets for 1 WTC were easy to get. The museum still looks like a tough ticket, so if you're visiting NY, plan in advance.
Overall my experience was positive. It was great to see this important new piece of NYC. NYers should check it out and see what they think. For me, the emotion of it all really got me when I saw the video underground. It brought on some of the memories from 9/11. I also felt it when approaching the building knowing what happened and how some people died. I don't know if I'll ever visit the museum. I'm not sure that I will want to relive that day.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)if i am ever in nyc, i will definitely see the footprints.
Mira
(22,380 posts)I personally appreciate the detailed report of the journey, and I respect your emotion and personal memories.
I've stood at the entrance, but could not yet go in.
The next time I'm in NYCity I will try again, though it is fraught with pain for me as well
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,583 posts)It sounds like a very worthwhile place to visit, to contemplate all the history...
K&R
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Experience
Gloria
(17,663 posts)My uncle supervised the construction cranes and I have pictures of him at the top of the old WTC before it opened....He was scared stiff...he didn't come from a construction background, but was lucky to have the job after Curtiss Wright closed down...
I went up to the Windows of the World once...that was it for me...I didn't eat there, just rode the elevators. The restaurant was dark, with low ceilings and it really spooked me....There is still the site for it on the web...
http://ny.eater.com/2013/9/11/6547477/windows-on-the-world-new-yorks-sky-high-restaurantmuch...
Some of the pictures look pretty bright, but the day I was there, it seemed so dark and foreboding....I had to get out of there fast!
Artifacts from the restaurant
http://amhistory.si.edu/september11/collection/record.asp?ID=79
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)KinMd
(966 posts)lower for groups
Gloria
(17,663 posts)mostly views, some inside shots...
Had a friend from England who was there on 9/10/2001...
Just SO SPOOKY for me....
joshcryer
(62,269 posts)Sounds amazing, may have to check it out one day.
Gloria
(17,663 posts)OH, so dark, so spooky...
Bartender who ran a mixology class there, the D.J. that night...9/10/2001
http://tvblogs.nationalgeographic.com/2014/09/07/910-the-final-hours-a-cocktail-at-the-end-of-the-world/
9/11: The Final Hours, on tonight at 8P ET, poignantly begins and ends with that final cocktail. George Delgado, alive and well today and still plying his trade, demonstrates how to make the last drink served in the last Mixology class he taught on the last night of existence of Windows on the World.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Is the new building good for that too?
Renew Deal
(81,855 posts)It's not a trick I've used. Sometimes even if the clouds are low it doesn't mean rain is imminent. For me, it feels like it gets darker faster in the city. So if it gets dark quickly I know rain is coming.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)I stayed with someone near W 75th and Columbus with a view of the park so it wasn't that bad.
The Stock Exchange on the other hand is tucked away surrounded by much taller buildings so it literally is operating in the shadows.
lamp_shade
(14,827 posts)Renew Deal
(81,855 posts)I hadn't seen any other visitor comments from someone that's not paid to write (though I haven't looked hard).
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I'd like to go if I ever make it to NY. I saw most of Washington DC 18 years ago.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)Thank you for this however. I feel the same as you in regard to the museum. I am not sure I could deal with that very well.
Never ever will I forget that day.
Renew Deal
(81,855 posts)I go right up to the glass. If the glass wasn't there I probably wouldn't go near the edge.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)I get weak-kneed just looking at it online!
Renew Deal
(81,855 posts)One time I was at the CN Tower in Toronto. They have a section with glass floor. There were kids that were jumping up and down on it. I didn't want to go near it. Eventually I mustered up the courage to walk across it. Very scary. I didn't take the picture.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)NO way.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)I don't think there is enough money in the world to get me on that.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)and I look forward to visiting the new Observatory at One World Trade in the future. It was a good happy hour, lots of food, that view....spiffy.
Renew Deal
(81,855 posts)But I don't remember with who and why.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)amusement for me, an actual stumble was not unusual. People falling down in dining out attire is just funny any way you slice it. It was hard for me to get pot in NY, so I would occasionally have a drink and that was one of my places, because of all the free food and distraction that went with the very excellent cocktail. The view was beyond compare of course.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)really never made it onto my radar before the attacks.
It makes me sad that I can never see that place. I did visit the Empire State Building as a child. But the WTC just seemed like big office buildings to me (which of course they were). But they were so much more than that - I learned after the fact.
Renew Deal
(81,855 posts)It's an iconic global landmark. I don't remember if the old WTC had the same type of visitor center.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)The ESB and the Chrysler Building (best looking skyscraper ever, in my opinion) are beautiful.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)On 9/11 my alarm radio woke me up at 5am (California time) to the news that 'something bizarre had just happened to one of the Twin Towers' so when I turned the tv on I was watching the first televised scenes live. I saw the second plane and like everyone else on the planet instantly realized it was deliberate. I watched for 2 and a half hours then I went to work in UC Berkeley. All of us were immediately sent home. Classes were suspended too. The country basically shut down that day.
To this day I think of our history as pre 9/11 and post 9/11. I guess I'm not the only one.
Your description makes me want to visit when I go the NYC. Up to now I've thought it would be too tragic. Thanks again.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)I thought "they said they didn't have any footage of the crash". Even as I was looking at the first building smoking it took a second to process.
panader0
(25,816 posts)Which companies are there?
Thanks for the tour.
Renew Deal
(81,855 posts)Conde Nast
US GSA
China Center
KiDS
Legends Hospitality
I've also heard the Port Authority might move back in there, but I'm not sure if that happened.
http://mashable.com/2014/05/29/world-trade-center-companies
kwassa
(23,340 posts)Stood on the roof and admired the view.
It is nice to know it is back in a different form.