The Tower of Voices is designed as a musical instrument, with 40 wind chimes tuned to individual notes intended to create a harmonious but never dissonant sound.
The memorial site occupies land that was previously used for surface coal mining, requiring extensive environmental reclamation.
The Wall of Names is aligned with the final flight path of the aircraft, physically demarcating the trajectory of the descent.
The hemlock grove adjacent to the impact site remains a restricted area to honor the final resting place of the passengers and crew.
The landscape design uses native grasses and wildflowers to mimic the pre-mining topography of the Pennsylvania countryside.
The Flight 93 National Memorial marks the crash site of the fourth hijacked plane on September 11, 2001, where passengers and crew forced the aircraft down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The site features the Wall of Names, a series of 40 white marble panels etched with the names of those aboard the flight. The memorial encompasses over 2,200 acres of reclaimed strip-mined land, integrated into the landscape as a permanent protected space. Key architectural elements include the Visitor Center, located on a ridge overlooking the crash site, and the Tower of Voices, a 93-foot tall monument featuring 40 wind-activated chimes. The flight path of the aircraft is marked by a black granite walkway that descends from the visitor complex toward the impact site. A ceremonial gate marks the entrance to the crash site, which remains a place of quiet reflection. The design by Paul Murdoch Architects emphasizes the intersection of the sky, the horizon, and the earth. Vegetation and reforestation efforts have been ongoing since the site's initial designation to restore the natural integrity of the rural setting.
The view from the Memorial Plaza, looking out over the field and the crash site beyond the Wall of Names.
Download the NPS app for the self-guided audio tour before you arrive, as cell service can be intermittent in the rural area.
Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes to navigate the paved paths that connect the visitor center to the memorial plazas.
Allow time to walk the Allée, the pedestrian path that provides a transition from the visitor center to the field of honor.
Avoid walking off the designated paved trails or into restricted areas near the hemlock grove, as these are considered hallowed ground.
The park remains open daily year-round, though sections of the driving route may be subject to snow closure in deep winter.
Maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor throughout the park, especially when near the Wall of Names and the crash site.
