September 11, 2001 was a dark day everyone remembers. The early morning news was riveting: A plane had hit the World Trade Center. Not knowing what happened and while glued to the television screen, we saw another plane hit the second World Trade Center tower. Then we heard about the Pentagon. Finally, we heard about Flight 93, the plane that went down in Pennsylvania. It was a story that would develop over the next several days, weeks, years, and decades. 9/11 was the Pearl Harbor of our time. Beyond the horror, anger, and emotions of that day, the story of the Flight 93 passengers’ bravery emerged. We know now that Flight 93’s intended target was the U.S. Capitol; Todd Beamer and his fellow passengers prevented that from happening. “Let’s roll,” were Beamer’s eloquent words to his fellow travelers. Beamer’s words would resonate around the world.
The Flight 93 Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, is somber, dignified, emotional and elegant. It consists of a giant wind chime, the Tower of Voices, near the entrance, a museum with numerous interactive exhibits (where no photography is allowed), a black stone walkway denoting Flight 93’s path, a wall of 40 tablets (each carrying the name of a Flight 93 victim), and the impact area. The impact area is a grassy field bordered by a hemlock forest with a large boulder denoting the impact point. You can walk around the impact area, but you can’t walk on it (it is off limits to everyone, as human remains are entombed in its hallowed ground).
Symbolism abounds in the Flight 93 National Memorial. The dark stone sidewalks and borders represent the coal mined in this part of Pennsylvania. The lighter stone structures (the walls of the museum and more) are impressed with the grain structure of the hemlock trees bordering the impact area. The angles in the sidewalks and walls represent the surrounding hemlock forest’s branches. There are three rows of benches in the viewing area, representing Flight 93’s three passenger seats in each row.
The Flight 93 National Monument is in the Allegheny Mountains, and this part of Pennsylvania is both rural and stunning. The Flight 93 National Memorial is the least visited of the 9/11 memorials, no doubt due to its remote location. This is coal mining and Amish country, and the rolling hills and winding roads are a rider’s paradise. We visited in April and it was a brisk 60 degrees. Summers are hot and humid. Fall will offer stunning views of the trees changing colors; the challenge is visiting late enough to see the color change but not so late that the leaves have left.
The Flight 93 National Memorial is well worth the trip to southwestern Pennsylvania. The riding is epic, the scenery outstanding, and the Flight 93 National Memorial is a worthy and emotional tribute to the Flight 93 passengers. During our visit, we stayed in Somerset, the nearest town of any size with hotels and restaurants, as Shanksville is a very small community.
Getting To and Around the Flight 93 Memorial
- What: The Flight 93 National Memorial, 6424 Lincoln Hwy, Stoystown, Pennsylvania, 15563, (814) 893-6322. Open every day from sunrise to sunset (the Memorial is closed on Christmas). Admission is free.
- How to Get There: Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) from either the east or the west. Take the Route 281 exit north to US 219 north to US Route 30 (the Lincoln Highway) east.
- Best Kept Secret: This is more than just a National Monument; be prepared for an emotional experience.
- Don’t Miss: Taking the walk from the museum to the impact area and viewing the adjacent 40 inscribed tablets. Also, be sure to converse with the Park Rangers and volunteers, as they can provide additional information and insights about the Monument’s features. If you stay in or pass through Somerset, be sure to try Rey Azteca, a Mexican restaurant with wonderful cuisine. I had their chicken chile relleno (prepared in the Guatemalan style, it was awesome).
- Avoid: Not checking the weather (it can be cold and icy during the winter months).
- More Info: Flight 93 National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)
- More Photos: The Exhaust Notes Blog
Originally published as “Rides and Destinations” in the July/August 2023 issue of Motorcycle Classics magazine.