Booking choice: The Ground Zero walking tour, from $29 per person. Check dates Tour details
For many children today, September 11 is history rather than memory. One parent on the All Access tour wrote that she and her husband remember the day clearly, while their daughter was not yet born, and that walking the grounds together was very touching.
The question is how much of the story, and which parts, suit your child.
The quick answer
The Museum advises that its historical exhibition may not be appropriate for children under 10, and leaves the decision to parents. The outdoor Memorial suits all ages. Children 6 and under enter the Museum free with a ticket; youth 7 to 12 pay $24. For younger kids, a guided walk and the plaza, followed by the Observatory, is a gentler day.
Is the 9/11 Museum appropriate for kids?
For older children, usually yes; for under-10s, the Museum itself advises caution with the historical exhibition.
The historical exhibition follows the attacks minute by minute, with recorded voices and images that many adults find hard. The rest of the Museum, including Foundation Hall, is less intense, and you can choose your route.
Planning a family visit? The guided walk covers the plaza with an optional Museum upgrade.
Check dates for the Ground Zero walking tourWhat age is right for the 9/11 Museum?
Ten and over is the Museum's own guide line for the historical exhibition; you know your child best.
Teenagers often get the most from it, especially with a guide who can answer questions. For younger children, the Memorial and the stories of rescue and rebuilding are a better starting point.
How much do children pay?
At the Museum, 6 and under are free with a ticket, youth 7 to 12 pay $24 and young adults 13 to 17 pay $30.
On the ExperienceFirst tours (including the All Access), children 4 to 12 get a small discount and under-4s go free; on the plain walking tour, children 3 and under are free. The Memorial is free for everyone.
Two official options are built for families. The Family Pass ($106 to $125) bundles two adult tickets with two or three young adult tickets. The Youth and Family Tour ($33 to $66 with admission) is a 60-minute, age-appropriate tour led by a Museum educator, with an art activity at the end; it runs in the summer months. Both are on the Museum's ticket page.
Are the walking tours suitable for children?
Yes: the operators describe the subject as covered sensitively and say many families have joined their tours.
Guests praise guides who engaged children with questions; one wrote that her 13- and 9-year-old nephews thought it would be boring and loved it. Keep the walk short for little legs and bring water.
A small-group walk with a guide who knows how to talk to families, from $29.
Explore the Ground Zero walking tour Tour detailsCan you bring a stroller?
On the plaza, yes, of any size; inside the Museum, standard strollers are fine but jogging and oversize strollers are not allowed.
Inside, elevators and escalators run wherever there are stairs, and coat rooms can store bags. Food and drink are only allowed in the cafe.
How can you prepare children for the visit?
Talk first about what they will see, focus on helpers and remembrance, and agree that you can leave any room at any time.
The Memorial & Museum's Youth and Families page has tips on talking to children about 9/11, a short 9/11 primer and activities to do at home. In summer it adds free drop-in art activities on the plaza and in the Museum. A white rose on a name, placed for that person's birthday, is a simple way into the conversation.
What is a good family plan?
Guided walk, a slow loop of the pools, a snack, then the Observatory; add the Museum only for older children.
Ending high above the city gives children something to look forward to. See the Observatory guide for timing.
What if the Museum is too much?
Leave: there is no rule that you must see it all, and the plaza outside is a good place to talk afterwards.
Remember there is no re-entry, so decide together before you go back in.
Keeping it gentle? Start with the guided walk and the free Memorial.
Check dates for the Ground Zero walking tourFrequently asked questions
Is the 9/11 Museum OK for a 7-year-old?
The Museum advises that the historical exhibition may not suit under-10s. Many families with young children visit the Memorial and skip that exhibition.
Do babies need a ticket for the 9/11 Museum?
Children 6 and under enter free, but they still need a ticket.
Is the 9/11 Memorial suitable for kids?
Yes. The outdoor plaza is calm and open to every age, and free.
Ready to book
Choose your visit
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
9/11 Memorial & Ground Zero Walking Tour
- Guided walk of Ground Zero with a guide who has a personal connection to 9/11
- St. Paul's Chapel (outside), FDNY Memorial Wall and Ten House, Survivor Tree, Memorial pools
- Small group: a maximum of 15 travelers
All Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Museum & Observatory
- Guided Ground Zero walk: the Oculus, FDNY Memorial Wall, Survivor Tree and the Memorial pools
- A local guide who shares a personal connection to 9/11
- Skip-the-line timed entry to the 9/11 Museum (self-guided; a docent-led VIP option is available)
