Tribute in Lights: Remembering September 11, 2001

In remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, two beams of light were first lit on March 11, 2002 the six-month anniversary of the attacks. The two towers of light are composed of two banks of high wattage spotlights -- 44 for each beam and point straight up from a lot next to Ground Zero. The twin beams of light recreate a ghostly image of the Twin Towers.

The memorial was first turned on at 6:55 p.m. on March 11, 2002 by Valerie Webb, a 12-year-old girl who lost her father, a Port Authority police officer, in the attacks. Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Pataki were with Valerie when she flipped the switch.

For the 11th Anniversary of 9/11, the Tribute in Lights will be illuminated from dusk on September 11, 2012 until dawn on September 12, 2012.

It is visible for many miles, and it has been reportedly seen from as far away as Rockland County (which is about an hour north of New York City).

You can read more about the Tribute in Light on Wikipedia.

Check out these images of the Tribute in Light on Flickr.

Want to see it for yourself? The Tribute in Light is best viewed from the waterfront outside of Manhattan, including Jersey City, the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade and Gantry Plaza State Park, though the Tribute in Light can be seen from many places in and around New York City.