September 11th National Memorial Trail
{{short description|Long-distance trail in the United States}}
September 11th National Memorial Trail, also known as the 9/11 Trail, is a network of trails and roadways nearly {{convert|1300|mi}} long connecting the Flight 93 National Memorial, the Pentagon Memorial, and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americantrails.org/resources/september-11th-national-memorial-trail|title=September 11th National Memorial Trail - American Trails|website=www.americantrails.org}} It is tribute to those who perished in September 11, 2001 attacks and to those who responded to them.
The dedication was initiated by an act of Congress.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2278|title=H.R.2278 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): To designate the September 11th National Memorial Trail Route, and for other purposes. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress}} President Joe Biden signed H.R. 2278, officially designating the trail route on October 13, 2021.
The triangular-shaped trail - to the sites of the memorials in Arlington, Virginia and New York City, and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania - passes through six Mid-Atlantic states and Washington, D.C.{{Cite web|url=https://www.911trail.org/dmv.html|title=DMV|website=9/11 TRAIL}} At its inception it incorporated 55% off-road trails and 45% existing roadways.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mdmountainside.com/national-911-memorial-trail|title=National 9/11 Memorial Trail|website=Allegany County, The Mountain Side of Maryland}} A 1.5 mile purpose built section was added thereafter.
Existing trails along the route
{{incomplete list|date=June 2023}}
File:September 11th National Memorial Trail shield.svg
Clockwise from the Pentagon the triangular 9/11 Trail incorporates many sections of existing trais, as well as overlapping segments of the East Coast Greenway.
- Pentagon Memorial (VA)
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (DC,MD)
- Great Allegheny Passage (MD, PA)
- September 11th National Memorial Trail (first purpose-built section - 1.5 miles){{Cite web|url=http://www.911trail.org/1/post/2021/04/expansion-in-somerset-county-pa.html|title=Expansion in Somerset County, PA|website=9/11 TRAIL}}{{Cite web|url=https://triblive.com/local/regional/ribbon-cut-on-new-1-5-mile-section-of-9-11-national-memorial-trail-in-somerset/|title=Ribbon cut on new 1.5-mile section of 9/11 National Memorial Trail in Somerset|first=Mary Ann|last=Thomas|date=May 1, 2021|website=TribLIVE.com}}
- Flight 93 National Memorial (PA)
- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
- Johnstown Flood National Memorial
- Lehigh Gorge Trail (PA)
- Sussex Branch Trail (NJ){{cite news |last=Vitale |first=Vincent |date=January 4, 2022 |url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/randolph/sections/home-and-garden/articles/take-a-walk-on-the-september-11th-national-memorial-trail-in-randolph |title=Take a Walk on The September 11th National Memorial Trail In Randolph |work=TAPinto}}
- Paulinskill Valley Trail (NJ){{Cite web|url=https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/new-jersey-tnc-lands-to-connect-segment-of-911-memorial-trail/|title=Connecting and Commemorating: The 9/11 Trail|website=The Nature Conservancy}}
- Patriots' Path (NJ)
- Lenape Trail (NJ)
- Essex - Hudson Greenway (NJ) (future){{cite news |last=Zeitlinger |first=Ron |date=September 15, 2022 |url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2022/09/essex-hudson-greenway-advocates-laud-nj-purchase-of-abandoned-rail-line-to-create-9-mile-park.html |title=Essex-Hudson Greenway advocates laud NJ purchase of abandoned rail line to create 9-mile park |work=The Jersey Journal}}
- Hudson River Waterfront Walkway (NJ)
- Empty Sky, the official New Jersey 9/11 memorial
- Hudson River Greenway (NY)
- National September 11 Memorial & Museum (NY)
- East Coast Greenway (NJ)
- Rahway River Parkway (NJ)
- Middlesex Greenway (NJ)
- D&R Canal Trail (NJ)
- Delaware Canal State Park Trail (PA)
- Garden of Reflection, the official Pennsylvania 9/11 memorial{{Cite web|url=https://www.thereporteronline.com/2022/03/15/a-tribute-to-fallen-heroes-september-11th-national-memorial-trail-in-pennsylvania-designated-as-a-statewide-major-greenway/|title=A TRIBUTE TO FALLEN HEROES: September 11th National Memorial Trail in Pennsylvania designated as a Statewide Major Greenway|date=March 15, 2022}}
- Delaware and Lehigh Trail (PA)
- US 202 Parkway Trail (PA)
- Schuylkill River Trail (PA){{Cite web|url=https://www.thereporteronline.com/2021/11/28/stretch-of-9-11-national-memorial-trail-passes-through-montgomery-county/|title=Stretch of 9/11 National Memorial Trail passes through Montgomery County|date=November 28, 2021}}
- Northern Delaware Greenway (DE)
- Jack A. Markell Trail (DE)
- Battery Park Trail (DE)
- James F. Hall Trail (DE)
- Torey C. Brown Rail Trail (MD)
- Jones Falls Trail (MD)
- 9/11 Memorial of Maryland
- Gwynns Falls Trail (MD)
- Middle Branch Trail (MD)
- BWI Trail
- Overstreet Connector Trail (MD)
- Baltimore and Annapolis Trail (MD)
- Spa Creek Trail (MD)
- Poplar Trail (MD)
- South Shore Trail (MD)
- Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail (MD)
- Anacostia Riverwalk Trail (DC)
- National Mall (DC)
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|September 11th National Memorial Trail}}
- [https://www.911trail.org 911 Trail.org]
- [https://www.911trail.org/our-history.html History]