9/11 Ground Zero Tour
Why I Lead Walking Tours of the 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero
I never thought I'd become a 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero tour guide. In fact, I avoided talking about September 11, 2001, for over two decades. My family suffered a terrible loss that day — my oldest sibling, Michael, who worked in the North Tower, was one of the 2,753 victims in New York City. For years, I stuffed down the pain, the grief, and the anxiety as far as I possibly could.
As someone who built a career as a tour guide known for light-hearted, humorous scampers around New York City, I initially found the idea of giving 9/11 ground zero tours to be deeply conflicting. Profiting off such a tragic event that changed my family forever? No way. I swore I'd never do it. I had absolutely no interest.
But something changed.
“A Carnival of Death”
One day, I was walking near the memorial when I overheard a tour guide on the street refer to the scene at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 as "a carnival of death." I was stunned. Disgusted, actually. I felt a rage I hadn’t felt in over 20 years.
And in that moment, something in me shifted. I realized a few important things:
I couldn’t stop insensitive profiteering or prevent sensationalized tours from happening.
I couldn’t control how others presented this place of tremendous loss, or the false tales they spun.
But I could do something small to bring dignity and reverence back to the experience for visitors.
So I decided to lead my own tours — not with shock value, but with compassion, honesty, and respect. I never imagined how much it would change me in the process.
Unexpected Healing
I hadn't talked about 9/11 — not really — for over 20 years. Every time I tried, I was met with one of two reactions: silence or discomfort. Some people didn't want to hear about it. Others couldn't bear to listen. Some even responded with subtle disdain, like "Why can't you just move on?"
So I buried it. All of it. My loss, my grief, my trauma — I packed it all away and tried to live my life.
But then I started giving these tours, and suddenly I was talking about it every single day. My sibling's story. My family's story. My own story. And something unexpected happened — it was healing.
The more I spoke, the lighter I felt. Each time I shared, it was like I was finally giving myself permission to grieve out loud. And my guests, they have been incredible. In fact, I’ve learned as much from them as they have from me.
They ask thoughtful questions. Many share their own stories of loss, grief, and resilience. Many hug me at the end of tours. Some have thanked me for helping them understand the event better, while others told me how moved they were to hear a firsthand perspective.
I never expected that leading these tours would help me heal from a wound I didn’t even realize was still so raw. But it did.
Restoring the Truth
Another unexpected gift of leading these tours has been the educational impact. In an age where conspiracy theories and misinformation spread like wildfire, I’ve had parents pull me aside after a tour and thank me.
"My teenager was starting to believe some crazy conspiracy theories about 9/11, and I didn't know how to talk to them about it. Thank you for reaching them." I had no idea I was until they told me.
Others reach out afterward asking for resources to learn more, because they express disbelief in what they thought was the truth before taking my tour.
I never anticipated becoming a source of truth for people, but here I am. And I'm grateful for it.
Building Something Bigger — In Mike's Name
As the work grew and my connection to the story deepened, I began to think about what else I could do with this platform. After all, I was often standing at the very place where my brother's life was taken — and making an income doing it. That realization never sat easily with me.
So I’ve made the decision to turn this work into something even more meaningful. I'm in the process of creating a foundation in Mike’s name (The 14 Foundation), where a large portion of the net proceeds from my ground zero tours will be donated.
The foundation will focus on causes that would have mattered to Mike — and this is where I am currently at in the process, what would he want me to support? One day soon I will figure that detail out and my hope is that this work can become a force for good, and that our loss can be transformed into a source of positivity for others.
I can’t think of a better way to honor my brother’s legacy.
Purpose is powerful. And this — this work, this storytelling, this connection with others — has become my way of turning loss into light.
To book a 911 Ground Zero Tour with me, please visit http://www.vibenyctours.com
To follow the progress of The 14 Foundation join the newsletter found on the same website, or email: info@vibenyctours.com.
