Flight 93 – Shanksville, Pennsylvania (our visit November 11, 2001):
We visited the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93 on November 11, 2001 — just two months after the 9/11 attacks. At that time, nothing had been built yet. There was no visitor center, no memorial plaza, no walkway. Only a simple fence stood at the edge of the field, where people left flowers, flags, handwritten notes, and small personal tributes.
The atmosphere was incredibly quiet and still. The entire area felt peaceful, solemn, and a little eerie, knowing what had happened there only weeks before. Standing at the site so soon after the crash was an emotional experience — one that stays with you.
We haven’t been back since, and today the site looks completely different. A full national memorial now stands there, honoring the passengers and crew who fought back against the hijackers.
Please note: the photos included here were taken in 2001. Every photo we took that day in 2001 came out blurry or grainy, even though we were using a good camera and the weather was clear. It wasn’t the equipment, and it wasn’t the conditions — the images simply refused to come out sharp. It added to the strange, quiet, almost eerie feeling of being at the site so soon after the crash.
Quick Facts – Flight 93 Crash Site:
- Location: Shanksville, Pennsylvania (Stonycreek Township)
- Date of Crash: September 11, 2001
- Our Visit: November 11, 2001 — two months after the crash
- Site Condition in 2001: No buildings or memorial structures yet; only a simple fence for tributes
- Atmosphere: Quiet, serene, and slightly eerie
- Photos: All images from that day came out blurry or grainy, despite clear weather and a good camera
- Current Site: Now a full National Memorial with visitor center, walkway, and permanent exhibits
- Purpose of Memorial: Honors the passengers and crew who fought back against the hijackers