September 11th Garden Braemar Stone in New York, New York

All the United States New York State Manhattan September 11th Garden Braemar Stone A small piece of Scotland sits in a park in Lower Manhattan. The Braemar Stone in the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden alongside an interpretive sign describing the stone and the park. Dark Nebula Deluxe / Atlas Obscura User The Braemar Stone in the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden Dark Nebula Deluxe / Atlas Obscura User The Braemar Stone in the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden Dark Nebula Deluxe / Atlas Obscura User The Braemar Stone in the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden alongside an interpretive sign describing the stone and the park.

The Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden, which memorializes the deceased British and Commonwealth citizens from that event, is located relatively close to the World Trade Center site itself. This park contains a lot of subtle symbolism, but the most notable and outstanding feature within the park is the Braemar Stone. Braemar stones in general have their origin in ancient Celtic games.

Competitors would throw these rounded stones, which may weigh between 19 and 28 pounds (8.6 – 12.7 kg), like a modern shot put. While the Braemar Stone in the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden looks superficially similar to one of these stones, it was never used in any competition. Instead, the stone was taken from a part of the River Dee near Balmoral, the British royal residence in Scotland, and brought to Manhattan to be placed within the park.

The stone now sits on a small plinth marked “New York to Aberdeen” with the distance between the sites marked below the inscription (but partly obscured by the ground), symbolizing the British royal family’s personal connection to this small September 11th memorial. Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter. Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

The Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden is located in Lower Manhattan partway between Wall Street and the southern part of the shoreline. This park is open at all times of day. The stone is located on the west side of the park next to a large sign describing the park’s history and design.

It memorializes America’s initial military response to the terrorist attacks on our country on September 11, 2001. A twisted steel beam from the wreckage of the World Trade Center is the centerpiece of this memorial for those who died on September 11, 2001. A heartfelt tribute to all of the victims of one of the greatest tragedies in United States history.