Tourists can share 9/11 memories, look at memorial plans, buy DVDs at new ground zero center

9/11 memorial preview site opening in NYC

NEW YORK — Tourists eager for a look at the Sept. 11 memorial won’t have to strain through a fence surrounding ground zero anymore.

The foundation building the memorial to victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks will show models and sketches of the design at a new visitors’ center opening next week near the World Trade Center site.

The 9/11 Memorial Preview Site is opening on Aug. 26 inside an old camera shop. National 9/11 Memorial & Museum President Joe Daniels says it will include live video of construction of the memorial, which won’t open to the public for two years.

Visitors also will be able to record memories of where they were on Sept. 11, 2001, for the museum’s permanent collection. Pins, DVDs and other memorabilia also will be for sale.

On the Net:

National 9/11 Memorial & Museum: www.911nationalmemorial.org

Tribute WTC Visitor Center: www.tributewtc.org

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: www.wtcprogress.com