The Signs of New York City

Everywhere you go in NYC, there are signs of 9/11. Whether it be a memorial or rebuilding, there are signs. This sculpture sat outside the twin towers and is now a memorial in a park in lower Manhattan. There is an eternal flame that burns in front of it.

One of our tour guides told us that on September 11, 2001, people seeking to escape the World Trade Center area ran to the lower Manhattan area. Emergency calls went out to boats of all sizes to come and help transport. Over 500,000 people were transported away from the Manhattan Island in 6 hours. It was the largest evacuation of people in the history of the world.

This Wall of Tiles went up as a memorial shortly after the day of devastation. It has not been changed and is not "spotlighted" in any way - it just is.


In nearly every picture of the skyline, you see the building with the cranes on top of "One World Trade Center", the building that will be the highest of all the buildings being erected on the site of the twin towers. This building is now only half finished so you can imagine the size when it is completed. The need to rebuild and "make it big" is a sign that New York in no way feels defeated. Flags are everywhere - a continuing sign of strength.

This church is world famous. It is a true sign of God's love and caring for all his people. It received no damage during 9/11 and only one tree on the grounds was destroyed. It is only blocks from "ground zero".

You see the World Trade Center in the background.

During the days that followed the terrorist attack, this church was used as a respite for the rescue workers and clean up crews. And it was used by family members of those missing. Today, it is a religious stronghold in the neighborhood and it holds signs of those times 10 years ago.

This make shift altar is covered with pictures of people who died on 9/11.

The pipes of the organ is dwarfed by the flags and signs of support present in the church.

This site is close-by and it is filled with memorial signs. This one was made by an iron worker and shows the important parts of the old skyline. Moving away from the ground zero site, there are the signs you would expect from New York City.

The world's largest button in the fashion district.

A street corner band in Times Square.

The ball that drops at midnight looks much smaller from the backside.

It still is a pretty cool sign of the city.
The flags flying in front of the United Nations building is a sign that the group is in session.
You don't see sunset, but you know the day is drawing to a close when you see the reflections growing bigger in the neighboring skyscraper.
And it is a sure sign when the lights come on in the Chrysler building.
These two signs are from Ellis Island museum and they refer to the Immigration that was happening in the late 1890's... there are those that feel the same way today...


Then there are ... just plain signs...

First you see the sculpture in the picture below, but look again and see the water tank on top of the building behind - since the big fires in the 1800's, any building over 6 stories must have a water tower on the roof - really.

The best sign of the city and the one the world recognizes.

OK, enough about New York City. It is a great place to visit and I definitely would not want to live there!