The memorial plaza and its two huge fountains now draw about 10,000 visitors each day to ground zero, even as construction continues on the rebuilt World Trade Center.
Visitors are required to get free passes in advance. No more than 1,500 people are allowed on the lower Manhattan site at a time.
The memorial opened on Sept. 12 after its dedication on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
"More visitors than ever before, 50.2 million, came to New York City in 2011," Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "And this year, one million of them were able to add a visit to the 9/11 Memorial to their trip, commemorating the lives of those lost on that unforgettable day."
The memorial's visitors have left tributes at the site, from flowers to first responder patches to personal effects like mass cards and letters, reflecting the scope and diversity of the victims themselves, who were citizens of more than 90 nations.
In testament to the global impact of the attacks, passes to visit the Memorial have been reserved by people in all 50 states and more than 120 countries. Memorial visitors to date have included people from France, Uganda, China, Germany, Brazil, Great Britain, Australia, Lebanon and many other locations both near and far from New York.
For more information or to reserve a free visitor pass to the Memorial, go to 911memorial.org.
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