Surrounded by open meadows and wildflowers in the eastern edge of the Laurel Highlands, the Flight 93 National Memorial honors those who lost their lives resisting terrorists who hijacked a commercial airliner on September 11, 2001. It is operated by the National Park Service and contains a memorial plaza, a visitor center with exhibits, and the Tower of Voices, a monumental, 93-foot tall musical instrument holding forty wind chimes, representing the forty passengers and crew members who perished. The best way to get to the Flight 93 National Memorial from the Great Allegheny Passage is by car from Rockwood, but ground has broken on a segment of the September 11 National Memorial Trail, a bikeable route from Garrett, Pa.
Memorial Construction
The construction of a permanent memorial to the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 was approved by both houses of Congress in 2002, and the first phase of the memorial was dedicated on September 10, 2011, at a public ceremony attended by Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, various dignitaries, family members of the passengers, and thousands of others. It includes both public and private landholdings.
Visitor Information
The park grounds and trails are open seven days a week, 365 days a year, from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, excepting national holidays.