Visiting the 9/11 Museum with Children

The museum’s guidance for under-10s

The museum does not recommend the Historical Exhibition or In Memoriam for children under 10. Both galleries deal directly with the day and with the people killed. Foundation Hall, the tridents, the Survivors’ Stairs and the Ladder 3 truck are outside those two galleries. The inside page shows how the spaces divide.

The plaza as the gentler option

The memorial plaza is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm and is free. The pools, the names, the Survivor Tree and the Memorial Glade can be seen at a child’s pace, and the free audio guide on the Bloomberg Connects app works outdoors. The memorial-vs-museum page separates the two visits.

Tickets for children

Children aged 6 and under enter free but need a ticket of their own. The museum ticket listing carries a family-of-four bundle and a two-adults-and-three-children bundle. Unaccompanied minors are not admitted, and the standard museum tours are pitched at adults and teenagers.

The family tours and the printable guide

Youth & Family Tours run in summer, 60 minutes, with every child accompanied by an adult. A printable guide exists for ages 8 to 11. Both are as published; check the museum’s own page on 911memorial.org before travelling.

Strollers, the café and breaks

Standard strollers are allowed inside the museum; oversized and jogging strollers are not. Elevators connect every level. The café on the pavilion’s atrium terrace, open 9 am to 6 pm, is the only place to eat or drink. The museum is kept at 68 to 72°F, so a layer for each child is useful. The rules page lists the rest.

The walking tours with children

The guided walks are outdoors for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The small-group walk lists baby strollers as not included and involves a significant amount of walking. The others are wheelchair accessible and run rain or shine. Where the museum is added, the same under-10 guidance applies inside.

Frequently asked questions