Freedom Tower

Opened in November 2014, the One World Trade Center is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.

TravelCurious Tip

Listen carefully at night and you may hear a haunting howl emanating from Freedom Tower, as strong winds whistle through the lattice of the antenna that crowns the building

The Freedom Tower, formally known as the One World Trade Centre, is the rebuilt World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan. Standing at 541m tall, with 104 stories, it is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere, and the sixth-tallest in the world. In fact its height is a deliberate reference to the year when the United States Declaration of Independence was signed.


This is not the only symbolism to be found in the design of Freedom Tower. The tower’s footprint is equal to those of the twin towers, and the observation deck is at the same height as those of the former complex. However in the new design formidable safety precautions were taken: it includes a 200ft-high blast resistance base, covered with over 2000 pieces of prismatic glass, and 1m-thick concrete walls that protect all elevators, stairwells and communication and safety systems.


Cutting shapes

Designed by the architects David Childs and Daniel Libeskind, the tower stretches skywards with chamfered edges. Looking up from its base, this results in the impression of stacked isosceles triangles, like adjacent crescendos and diminuendos, that eventually meld with the sky.


Look on my works, ye mighty

Spanning floors 100 to 102 is the New World Observatory, which provides breathtaking, panoramic views of New York. Visitors are launched upwards in Sky Pod elevators that ascend 102 floors in less than 60 seconds. Immersive, LED technology in each pod display a virtual time-lapse of the development of New York’s skyline, from the 1500s to the present day. At the top, if you’re feeling brave, you can step out onto the Sky Portal, a 14-ft wide disc that provides a real-time high-definition view of the streets below.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in New York
9/11 Ground Zero
A quieting tribute to the earth-shattering events of September 11, 2001.
Trinity Church
A venerable church in the Wall Street area, with a turbulent history and reported land holdings of over $2 billion.
St Paul's Chapel
Episcopal Church that still has pew where George Washington prayed after his inauguration
9/11 Museum
Museum dedicated to the 9/11 event and victims.
The Oculus Center
Take the best pictures of the World Trade Center Oculus, a cultural and commuting hub designed by architect Santiago Calatrava made of white steel wing-shaped tips reaching toward the sky.
One World Observatory
Located on floors 100-102 of One World Trade Center, this is the tallest observation deck in the city! Enjoy the stunning views from here.

Related Tours

NYC in a day: Private Walking Tour with the Statue of Liberty
Explore the most popular landmarks of historic New York City in a day, including the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, and embark on a full-day tour perfect for first-time visitors that want to make the most of their time in the city that never sleeps.

On your private tour you will: 

  • See the Statue of Liberty up close and learn of her remarkable story, as well as her significance to modern America;
  • Explore Ellis Island and the story of US immigration;
  • Enjoy a breathtaking view over the Manhattan skyline from the water;
  •  Learn about New Amsterdam in the Historic District of New York, settled in 1624;
  • See several of the area’s highlights, including Trinity Church, Battery Park, the Charging Bull statue and the Fearless Girl statue;
  • Hear about the modern financial system, as designed by Alexander Hamilton, and see several of the area’s main sites, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank from the outside;
  • Visit the National 9/11 Memorial and see how the tragic events of 2001 are remembered;
  • Finish your tour at Ground Zero with entrance tickets to the 9/11Musem, where you will be able to explore the museum at your own pace. 
Please note that tour guides are not allowed to guide inside the Statue of Liberty Museum and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Your guide will give you full information on each island and then silently accompany you through the museums. He/she will be able to answer questions you may have but not actually “guide” you through the museums. 
You will begin your tour at Castle Clinton, a former Fort in Battery Park, where you will board the ferry to the famous Liberty Island. Along the way, you will learn about the remarkable history of the Statue of Liberty, as well as its significance to modern America. From here you will also be able to enjoy a breathtaking view over the Manhattan skylines and harbour. 

It is estimated that forty per cent of the entire US population can trace at least one relative's arrival to the US, through the port of New York and Ellis Island
 
Boarding at Liberty Island, you will hear all about the fascinating history of the Liberty figure, and how this 100th birthday gift to America from France was shipped from Paris to New York, and finally unveiled after 10 years of construction in 1886.

After lunch, your tour continues in the heart of Wall Street, where the history of New York City began as New Amsterdam in the early 1600s. As you make your way through Wall Street you will discover how an 18th-century street bazaar would eventually become a centre for global commerce. 

At the National 9/11 Memorial, your guide will share with you the history of the World Trade Center, discuss the tragic events of 9/11, and walk you through the Memorial’s design. The area formerly known as 'Ground Zero' is now the site of a moving memorial and has indeed become an important historic landmark. 

Here your knowledgeable guide will tell you of the events leading up to the untimely destruction of the towers, as well as share some of the heart-wrenching stories of the families, survivors and 9/11 heroes. You will also visit St. Paul's Chapel, which miraculously survived the 9/11 attack. 

Your tour finishes with entrance tickets to the 9/11 Museum. Your guide will take you to the queue, and give you your timed tickets before departing with you. Once inside the museum, you are free to explore the museum at your own pace.  

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