A solemn memorial to the 40 passengers and crew who fought back on September 11, 2001.
Photo: James Steakley · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Flight 93 National Memorial honors the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93, who fought back against the hijackers on September 11, 2001, forcing the plane down in this Pennsylvania field rather than into its target in Washington, D.C. — likely the U.S. Capitol. Theirs was the only one of the four hijacked planes that did not reach its target. It is a place of mourning and reflection, set in the quiet Laurel Highlands.
The visit moves from the modern Visitor Center, with powerful minute-by-minute exhibits, down to the Memorial Plaza and the Wall of Names — 40 white marble panels at the edge of the crash site. The field itself is hallowed ground; visitors view the boulder marking the impact point from the plaza. Near the entrance, the 93-foot Tower of Voices holds 40 wind chimes, one for each person aboard.
It's free, contemplative, and deserves unhurried time. Treat it as you would a cemetery — voices low, photography sensitive at the Sacred Ground.
Modern, powerful exhibits walk you minute-by-minute through 9/11 and Flight 93, with an outdoor walkway aligned beneath the flight path.
Insider tipStart here to understand the story before walking down to the plaza; allow about an hour.
Plan a trip to this spot →Forty white marble panels, each inscribed with one name, follow the flight path at the edge of the crash site — the emotional heart of the visit.
Insider tipWalk the wall slowly; this is a place for quiet reflection, not photos first.
Plan a trip to this spot →A sandstone boulder marks the exact impact point; the field itself is hallowed ground, accessible only to families, viewed respectfully from the plaza.
Insider tipTreat this as you would any grave — voices low, photography unobtrusive.
Plan a trip to this spot →A 93-foot musical tower holding 40 wind chimes, one for each passenger and crew member — a 'living' memorial in sound.
Insider tipIt's a separate stop near the entrance; go on a breezy day to actually hear the chimes, and just listen.
Plan a trip to this spot →Architect Paul Murdoch's design wraps the crash site in wildflower meadows, walking paths, and a hemlock grove, all built for contemplation.
Insider tipAllow unhurried time to walk the paths; the scale and quiet are part of the intent.
Plan a trip to this spot →Rangers and volunteer 'Ambassadors' offer talks that add depth the exhibits alone can't.
Insider tipCheck the day's program schedule at the Visitor Center desk.
Plan a trip to this spot →Humid continental highlands (~2,200 ft) — warm summers, cold and snowy winters (~80 in/yr), with rain spread fairly evenly. The exposed former-mine plateau is windy and feels colder than the numbers, so bring layers. Best late spring through fall.
Off US-30 (Lincoln Highway) near Shanksville, in the Laurel Highlands.
Off US-30/PA-281 near Shanksville/Stoystown, ~1.5 hours southeast of Pittsburgh (reachable via the PA Turnpike, Somerset Exit 110). Free. Grounds open sunrise–sunset; the Visitor Center is open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed New Year's, Thanksgiving, Christmas). Allow unhurried time — it's quiet and contemplative.
No lodging at the memorial — base in nearby towns or the Laurel Highlands.
The nearest hotel cluster ~20–25 minutes away, right off the PA Turnpike and US-219.
Booking tipThe most convenient base.
More lodging and dining ~35–40 minutes north; pairs with the Johnstown Flood National Memorial.
Booking tipGood for a history-focused trip.
Mountain resorts and Ohiopyle-area inns within ~45–75 minutes.
Booking tipIdeal if combining with Fallingwater or Ohiopyle State Park.
Is it free?
Yes — there's no entrance or admission fee for the memorial or the Visitor Center.
What happened here?
On September 11, 2001, the 33 passengers and 7 crew of hijacked United Flight 93 fought back, forcing the plane to crash in this field rather than reach its target in Washington, D.C. It was the only one of the four hijacked planes that didn't reach its target.
What are the main features?
The Visitor Center & Museum, the Memorial Plaza with the Wall of Names (40 marble panels), the crash site / Sacred Ground with its boulder marker, and the 93-foot Tower of Voices with 40 wind chimes.
How do I visit respectfully?
This is both a memorial and an actual crash site and resting place. Keep voices low, stay out of the family-only Sacred Ground, and be sensitive with photography — approach it as you would a cemetery.
How long does it take?
Roughly 1.5–2.5 hours, including the Visitor Center, the plaza and Wall of Names, and the separate Tower of Voices stop.
When should I go?
Late spring through fall for the mildest weather; winters are cold, windy, and snowy on the exposed plateau. September is meaningful but the anniversary days bring crowds.
Pick your vehicle, line up the stops on the way in and out, and carry the whole route in your pocket.
