One World Trade Center Observatory
285 Fulton Street
New York, NY 10007
(844) 696-1776
Open: Sunday-Saturday 9:00am-9:00pm (hours change seasonally)
Admission: See the website for prices depending on individual and group prices seasonally
My review on TripAdvisor:
Though it is not a museum, it is a view of the world. I had been to the original World Trade Center three times before 9/11 and the views were just amazing. There is nothing like it as the Empire State Building’s are a bit different.
https://www.officialworldtradecenter.com/en/local/things-to-do/one-world-observatory.html
The building itself is very impressive to visit (quite frankly I would NEVER want to work here) but with its past leery of anything else. Too many people died on this site and I would not want to work in an office here no matter what company. I would want a parachute in my office at all times. Still this was going to be my second trip to the top of the building since 2015 when I visited with my best friend, Kris.
I had won two tickets to the Observatory from a contest at NYU and had set VIP tickets to skip the line to go to the top. At 10:00am in the morning, there was no line to skip. I went right to the top with not that many people there at that time. If you get there early in the morning in the off season, there are no crowds.
The site is still so impressive. This is the Occulus right by the Tower.
One World Observatory is at the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, One World Trade Center. The Observatory is located on the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floors encompassing over 125,000 square feet. You’ll take an incredible Sky Pod Elevator ride to the top. Once aloft guests can explore three levels of the Observatory filled with innovation and inspiration. One World Observatory offers views of New York City’s iconic sights, surrounding waters, and iconic skyline – amazing 360 views for up to 45 miles in every direction (One World Trade Center website).
The views from the top are so impressive of downtown and Governors Island.
Governors Island in the foreground and lower Manhattan. This is the original colony.
The views of Downtown Jersey City and the Waterfront are so spectacular.
The Statue of Liberty seemed so close.
The views of Downtown Brooklyn were amazing.
Midtown was so impressive on a clear day. You can see all the way up to Central Park.
Even the Battery was so impressive from this vantage point along the Hudson River.
Another shot of the Battery and Jersey City.
The views of New York Harbor are spectacular.
The Oculus and the Memorial Pools of the 9/11 Memorial from the top of the Observatory.
This interesting sculpture, XO World Project, is at the entrance when you leave the building.
The XO World Project was created by artist Daniel Anderson, features two sculptures, “XO PLAY” and “XO WORLD,” that encourage peace and love around the world. “XO PLAY,” on display in the Oculus, depicts children playing a game of jacks, symbolizing childhood innocence and harmony with the world. “XO WORLD,” on display just outside One World Trade Center at West Plaza, features a 12-foot “Jack” from the game of Jacks with an “X” representing “love” in universal sign language and “O” representing the world (World Trade Center website).
Artist Daniel Anderson
https://www.danielandersonart.com/
Contemporary abstract sculptor and painter Daniel Anderson was born and raised in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. His interest and passion for art began at an early age and led him to be recruited and to receive a scholarship to attend the College of Visual & Performing Arts at Syracuse University in New York. He continued his formal education in Florence, Italy, and was the sole artist from New York City selected to participate in an annual residency program in Melbourne, Australia (Artist’s website).
The sculpture is a visual expression of the powerful message of equality, unity, peace, and love. This use of iconography and symbolism is meant to connect with the hearts and minds of the masses as it is intended to motivate, activate, and further progress humanity (Artist’s website).
“As our society faces unprecedented challenges stemming from a global pandemic, economic recovery, racial inequity, and territorial conflicts, World Peace Day offers the perfect backdrop to unveil these two inspiring sculptures intended to bring people together,” said Anderson (Business Wire.com)
The view from the bottom when you leave.
The view from the 9/11 Memorial Park.
The 9/11 Memorial Pools which are the footprint of the original Trade Center Buildings.
https://www.911memorial.org/visit/memorial/about-memorial
This memorial still gets me choked up with what happened here over twenty years ago. I still see flags and flowers of near loved ones names along the edges of the pools. It is nice that family members still remember their family here.
The skyline of the park from the Memorial pools.
The pools are reminder of time when the world went mad. Those feelings are still simmering under the surface of society today.
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