On top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere is an unforgettable interactive experience and one of the best ways to see the greater New York City area. It's the One World Observatory at One World Trade Center.

One World Trade Center

One World Observatory

The origin of one of the best views of New York

Located in the heart of New York's financial district, is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the World Trade Center. The massive skyscraper was unveiled to the world in 2014. While the building alone is certainly one of the must-see attractions in New York, what separates this colossal structure from others is the incredible One World Observatory.

The awe-inspiring observatory opened on May 29, 2015. It sits atop the 1,776-foot-tall building (note the symbolism) and occupies the 100th, 101th and 102nd floors of the space. At this height, the observatory boasts one of the best panoramic views of New York City.

One World Observatory is more than just a place with an amazing view of Manhattan; it's an experience that allows you to become part of the city. It's fully equipped with an "interactive skyline concierge." If that sounds like a robot who knows too much, you're not too far off. The concierge explains what it is you're seeing and points out notable landmarks and neighborhoods.

The Main Observatory hosts a Trivia Tuesday where each screen on the City Pulse circle (pictured above) represents a different New York City-based topic. The trivia circle is controlled by a Tour Ambassador and is another fantastic way to find out about the city. However, the big reason to visit the Main Observatory isn't to learn about facts but to test your fear of heights.

Aptly named the Sky Portal, the 14-foot-wide domed illusion in the observatory gives you a real-time look at the street 1,776 feet below. Although the disc itself is only a few feet off the observatory ground, images from the tower's spire are projected onto high-definition screens you can stand on. The whole illusion is one incredible, possibly dizzying, experience.

Cover photo credit: @oneworldnyc via Instagram

Main observatory

Main Observatory

Visiting the 9/11 Memorial, you can feel the echoes and whispers of the fallen, and understand why after September 11, 2001, America would never again be the same. However, grief and tragedy aren't the only emotions.

It's surprising to see the memorial's emphasis on reconnecting with nature's and its unwavering beauty. While a sense of mourning is certainly a part of the 9/11 Memorial experience, the space subtly invites you to take a meditative pause from your day-to-day lives.

Located within the original foundation of the Twin Towers, the 9/11 Memorial takes up half of the acreage dedicated to the World Trade Center. The site contains almost 400 white oak trees surrounding the largest manmade waterfalls in the entire country. There are also dual Memorial pools that are engraved with the names of those who lost their lives in both the 1993 and 2001 terror attacks. These pools are where many visitors go to rest and reflect.

One of the initial intents of the waterfalls was to drown out the big city sounds, so people could come to the memorial and contemplate without distraction. The Callery pear tree, known as the "Survivor Tree," stands as a reflection of the resilient spirit of America. The tree was recovered from the ashes of the fallen Twin Towers in October 2001. 

Learn more about the 9/11 Memorial and Museum tours at www.911memorial.org.

Cover photo credit: @911memorial via Instagram

9/11 Memorial

Travel through 500 years of New York City history in 47 seconds.

Your journey to the top of the One World Observatory begins the second you set foot in its high-tech elevators. The elevators, also known as Sky Pods, travel at a breakneck speed covering 102 floors in 47 seconds. But don't expect your journey to the top to be just another elevator ride with some instrumental music to accompany you along the way. The walls are lined with nine three-dimensional time-lapse screens that project New York City's history over the last 500+ years. In each elevator cab, these 75-inch high-definition screens create the illusion that you're in an elevator with glass walls.

As you continue your ascent to the observatory, you can watch New York City unfold into the bustling international city it is today. The first part of the trip begins in the 1500s and shows Manhattan as grass-covered land, but as time passes, more and more urban elements sprout up. Before you reach the top, you see modern New York City. Along the way, there is also a brief homage to the fallen Twin Towers, but the focus then shifts towards the future.

While immersed in the digital unfolding of some of New York's most celebrated landmarks -- like St. Paul's Cathedral, the Empire State Building and the old Penn Station -- you will forget that the elevators are moving at an astonishing 2,000 feet per minute or approximately 23 miles an hour! The elevators at the One World Observatory are one of the most striking ways to begin a tour anywhere in the world. 

The Elevator

The One World Trade Center building is truly the marvel of Lower Manhattan. The building opened in October 2014 and measures in at 1,776 feet high for a total of 104 stories. But One World Trade isn't just a skyline decoration. The building holds three million square feet of rentable space. Its first major tenant was the magazine juggernaut Conde Nast, which occupies a whopping 55 percent of the building's space.

Architect David M. Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed the 3.9 billion dollar building, which took ten years to complete. The structure's notable features include entrances on all four sides, 54 high-speed elevators and a lobby with a 55-foot ceiling. 

The building is incredibly eco-friendly as much of the interior is made from recycled materials. The skyscraper is powered by wind and hydroelectric power and is mostly heated by steam. 

At the top of One World Trade are different dining options, each offering a unique eating experience. One Dining is a restaurant with a  seasonally inspired à la carte menu complemented by small production wines, local draft beers, and handcrafted cocktails. Reservations are recommended. One Mix is a bar serving handcrafted small plates and cocktails celebrating New York (no reservations required), and there is also One Cafe.

Designed with the motto  "See Forever."

One World Trade Center Building

For nearly 30 years, the World Trade Center stood as the epicenter of Lower Manhattan.

On April 4, 1973, New York City would never be the same. That was the official opening date of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. After the buildings were completed, they had the honor of being the tallest in the entire world. While that distinction only lasted for a few years longer, it does not undercut the impact of the skyscrapers on the city and the world. 

While the iconic Twin Towers were home to many big names in the business world, there were almost always three times as many visitors in the building as employees. On an average weekday, roughly 200,000 visitors came through the space where only 50,000 people worked. No doubt the World Trade Center Observatories were influential in attracting such large numbers of visitors. The original observatories were housed on the 107th and 110th floors of the Towers.

If the South Tower had the views, the North Tower had the food. One of the most popular restaurants at the time, the Windows on the World restaurant, was located in the North Tower. The eatery was located on 106th and 107th floors and was known as a fine dining magnet for both tourists and locals.

Throughout their history, the buildings weathered several setbacks including a dangerous fire in 1975 and a terrorist bombing in 1993. The first terrorist attack failed to destroy the buildings as it had intended, but six people were killed and over a thousand injured by a truck bomb that detonated below the North Tower.

For nearly 30 years, the World Trade Center stood as the epicenter of Lower Manhattan. 

Twin Towers at one trade center

Twin Towers at One Trade Center

Room to remember those who were lost and those who survived.

If the 9/11 Memorial is about reflecting, the 9/11 Museum is about remembering. The museum officially opened on May 21, 2014, and features a slew of multimedia exhibits, over 10,000 artifacts, 23,000 images and almost 2,000 oral histories by loved ones of those lost in the attack. The historic site also pays tribute to the survivors of 9/11. Located roughly 70 feet underground, the museum was designed by Davis Brody Bond. Watch the museum prepare for opening day below.

With over 110,000-square-feet of space, the museum houses several interactive exhibits. The Historical Exhibition has three parts: Witnesses at Ground Zero features photos captured between September 12 and 16 by a visiting French photographer who volunteered to help with rescue efforts at Ground Zero.  an exhibit with artists responding to the event with their unforgettable works; cover stories from various magazines and publications; and a memorial section for those who lost their lives. By combining video, still images, drawings, and paintings, these displays make up a comprehensive commemoration of the fateful day. 

By combining video, still images, drawings, and paintings, these displays make up a comprehensive commemoration of the fateful day. 

One World Trade Center, the Memorial, and the Museum give visitors the opportunity to connect with feelings of anguish and quietly reflect on 9/11's role in both their personal and national history. But those aren't the only emotions. They also come away with feelings of survivorship, pride, perserverance, and hope, The whole experience aims to help New York City and the country as a whole move forward, by granting the time and space to heal as well as an opportunity to look towards a bright future.

9/11 Museum

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This adventure, based on the Chicago History Museum exhibition, "Remembering Dr. King: 1929–1968," invites you to explore some of the locations Dr. King frequented in Chicago.

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Julia Bachrach

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Choose Chicago® is the official destination marketing organization for Chicago, Illinois. When you’re in Chicago, you’re home. With the countless experiences there are to have here, you're absolutely welcome to do any and all of them.

One World Observatory

Main Observatory

Main Observatory

9/11 Memorial

9/11 Memorial

The Elevator

The Elevator

One World Trade Center Building

One World Trade Center Building

Twin Towers at One Trade Center

Twin Towers at One Trade Center

9/11 Museum

9/11 Museum

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