Here's how Manhattan's skyline has changed in the 25 years since the 9/11 attacks

Ellen Ioanes,Roya Shahidi Business 10 Sep, 2026 Americas

Over the last 25 years, Manhattan has changed significantly since 9/11, especially at Ground Zero. Today, the Freedom Tower stands in remembrance.

Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan skyline at night with blue Tribute in Light beams over the East River. — The Tribute in Light was tested ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Adam Gray/Getty Images

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The World Trade Center site has become a memorial to the 2,977 lives lost.
Photos show how New York City rebuilt Ground Zero.

Each September, two large beams of light reach into the night sky above Manhattan's Financial District.

The installation commemorates those who were killed on September 11, 2001.

This Friday marks 25 years since that day, when terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger planes, crashing two into New York's Twin Towers.

Another plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and the fourth crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers.

In total, 2,977 victims lost their lives and, more than two decades later, their loved ones continue to gather to recite their names at the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center complex in New York.

These photos show how the attacks destroyed the towers that once defined the city's skyline, and how New York rebuilt Ground Zero.

The Twin Towers dominated the New York City skyline on this June day in 1999.

An aerial view of the Twin Towers on a peaceful June day in 1999. — The Twin Towers in New York City are pictured in June 1999.
Associated Press

Just over two years later, that skyline was horrifically altered.

A photo taken on September 11, 2001 shows smoke in the sky in Manhattan. — September 11, 2001.
Associated Press

The top photo was taken on August 30, 2001, while the bottom photo was taken 16 days after the attacks.

The lower Manhattan skyline is shown in an August 30, 2001 file photo (top), with the World Trade Center towers at center, and a in view taken from approximately the same spot on September 27, 2001, with both towers missing from the city's skyline following the September 11 attacks.
Reuters

The first Tribute in Light occurred on March 11, 2002, across from Ground Zero.

Tribute in Light beams rise over the Lower Manhattan skyline at night beside the East River and bridge. — Spencer Platt/Getty Images

In December 2003, a design for the new Freedom Tower was finally unveiled.

An aerial view showing the footprint of the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan, with the Hudson River, left, on Friday Sept. 10, 2004
Associated Press

It would come to include multiple new buildings, such as the 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center and a 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

A taxi drives past the construction in the Financial District in 2003. — Construction continues in the Financial District in 2003.
Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

The Tribute in Light still shines each year on the roof of the Battery Parking Garage. Here it is, five years after the attacks.

Two beams of light are seen above Manhattan as the 'Tribute in Lights' shines on the skyline on September 11, 2006. — The 'Tribute in Lights' shines on the skyline of lower Manhattan in New York, September 11, 2006, as the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center is observed.
Reuters

In late 2007, the site still looked the same, as construction was hamstrung by lawsuits, budget overruns, design changes, and a recession.

The World Trade Center site is surrounded by skyscrapers in New York. — This Aug. 29, 2007 file photo shows the World Trade Center site, center, surrounded by skyscrapers in New York.
Associated Press

In 2009, the 9/11 memorial waterfalls started to take shape.

Cranes work above the north pool of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 in New York. — Cranes work above the north pool of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.
Associated Press

One World Trade Center, also known as the "Freedom Tower," was just starting to rise from the rubble.

Attacks Memorial Cranes work above the north pool, lower right, of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 — Cranes at the site on January 27, 2009.
Associated Press

In June 2010, the skyscraper was slowly rising.

Attacks Redevelopment Construction cranes work above the rising steel structure of One World Trade Center, center, Wednesday, June 2, 2010 in New York. — In June 2010, the skyscraper was slowly rising.
Associated Press

By July 2011, the memorial waterfalls were tested, and One World Trade Center's facade was beginning to reflect the sky.

The waterfalls are tested as work continues on the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site, Friday, July 15, 2011 in New York.
Associated Press

Here's the Manhattan skyline in August 2011. You can see the unfinished tower beginning to peek over the other skyscrapers.

One World Trade Center towers over the lower Manhattan skyline, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011 in New York. The skyscraper is now 76 floors and will reach 104 floors.
Associated Press

The memorial waterfalls officially opened in September 2011, and the museum, seen on the right, opened in May 2014.

The September 11 Museum entrance pavilion, right, sits next to one of the September 11 Memorial pools, at the World Trade Center Monday, April 14, 2014 in New York. The memorial opened to the public in September, 2011 and the museum is scheduled to open in May, 2014.
Associated Press

By November 2014, One World Trade Center was complete, as were 4 World Trade Center (left) and 7 World Trade Center (right). However, 3 World Trade Center still wasn't finished.

A construction crane works on top of the rising steel frame of Three World Trade Center, center, November 20, 2014 in New York. The neighboring skyscrapers are Four World Trade Center, left, One World Trade Center, second from right, and 7 World Trade Center, right.
Associated Press

The WTC Transportation Hub, on which the white Oculus was built, was also under construction in late 2014.

The Fulton Street Transit Center, left, and One World Trade Center as seen from Church Street, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014, in New York.
Associated Press

The hub officially opened in June 2016, while 3 World Trade Center was still under construction.

In this Wednesday, June 22, 2016 photo, 3 World Trade Center, center, has reached its full height of 80 stories in New York. The building is one of three new skyscrapers that replace the twin towers destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. — Associated Press

The $50 million Liberty Park also opened in June 2016. From there, visitors can get an overhead view of the Ground Zero memorial.

A visitor to Liberty Park takes a selfie, Wednesday, June 29, 2016, in New York. — The one-acre, elevated Liberty Park opened in 2016. Built on top of a security center, it overlooks the memorial to those who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.
Associated Press

This photo from June 2018 shows 3 World Trade Center, One World Trade Center, 4 World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and Liberty Park, all of which were finally complete.