The Memorial recently launched it?s own iPhone app, called- Explore 9-11

With last week’s ninth anniversary of 9/11, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum marked several construction milestones. Memorial President Joe Daniels recapped those steps forward for Community Board 1 this week, along with some new updates -- including an announcement about its new iPhone app, “Explore 9/11.”

Daniels began by highlighting the most notable steps forward at the Memorial site. First, in late August, a dozen swamp white oak trees were planted between the two reflecting pools -- marking the first return of foliage at the World Trade Center (WTC) site since rebuilding began. They are among more than 400 trees that will eventually fill out the plaza.

Then on September 7th, two 70-foot-tall “tridents” were returned to the site. Once part of the steel exoskeleton of the north tower’s base, they were recovered during the WTC cleanup in 2001 and 2002. They were installed at the western edge of what will be the Museum entry pavilion, which literally will be built around the enormous, 100,000-pound tridents.

The Memorial also recently launched it’s own iPhone app. Called “Explore 9/11,” the app is now downloadable for free via iTunes, and offers three main functions: a walking tour of the WTC area, a collection of other users’ photos, and an interactive timeline of 9/11 events and aftermath.

“The Explore 9/11 app and the interactive pieces are some of the approaches we are taking to use cutting-edge technology to help fulfill our mission to educate, raise awareness, and document the history of September 11,” Daniels said.

The 9/11 Preview Site, located at 20 Vesey Street, has hosted more than 1.15 million visitors since it opened a year ago. Daniels said that oral history recordings are ongoing there, and all are welcome to participate.

He also noted that several more major 911 artifacts will be added to the Memorial’s subterranean space in the coming year. Among them are a section of the north tower’s antenna, an elevator motor, and a fire truck that responded on 9/11.

Click here to view a slide show of recent WTC rebuilding photos.

Click here to view a 3D Google Earth rendering of the Memorial site.

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