In Lower Manhattan, a unique commemorative tour retraces the events of September 11, 2001, through the perspective of Christina Stanton, a licensed New York City tour guide who experienced the day firsthand. Now, 25 years later, she continues to lead visitors through key sites connected to the attacks, providing a personal and detailed account of the tragic events that reshaped the city and the nation.

The tour begins outside a Burger King on Liberty Street, a location that played an unexpected role on 9/11. The fast-food restaurant was temporarily commandeered by the New York Police Department and marked with “NYPD Temp HQ” spray-painted above its entrance, serving as an impromptu command post amid the chaos. This little-known fact sets the tone for the subsequent stops, which highlight both the historical significance and the personal memories entwined with the locations.

One notable stop is an elevated park situated just south of the former footprint of the twin towers. Here, Stanton often points out 21 West Street, a yellow building where she and her husband Brian lived on the 24th floor. They had moved into their high-rise apartment only months before the attacks, in July 2001. At the time, Stanton was 31 years old and had been a licensed tour guide for six years, specializing in tours across Manhattan. She often reflected on her aspirations to be a Broadway actress, describing it with a playful tone as part of her storytelling style.

Her World Trade Center tour typically begins and concludes at the 25-ton Koenig Sphere, an iconic sculpture once located in the plaza between the twin towers. Stanton has expressed a sense of responsibility in preserving the memory of the events and the lives affected. “I have some agency in keeping these things alive,” she said, underscoring the enduring importance of firsthand testimony in public remembrance.

Stanton’s tours attract diverse groups, including school children from out of state, providing both historical context and personal narrative that bring the events of 9/11 into sharper relief. Through her guidance, she aims to maintain a living connection to that day that changed everything, ensuring that visitors understand not just the tragedy but also the resilience of New York City in its aftermath.