Proposed Trail Extensions
Situating remembrance within a longer American arc
The 9/11 National Memorial Trail is a network of connections anchored by the triangle of remembrance. By situating that heart within a longer American arc—from industrial origins in the north to endurance, defense, and future exploration in the south—the trail transforms grief into a deeper story of freedom, sacrifice, and resilience. Like the Camino, meaning is encountered through connection rather than distance, allowing remembrance to remain active, shared, and forward-looking.
Expanding the Trail's Reach
The 9/11 National Memorial Trail currently spans 1,500+ miles connecting the three National Memorials in New York City, Shanksville, and the Pentagon. These proposed extensions would more than double the trail's reach.
Northern Extension: Erie to Pittsburgh Trail
Route: Pittsburgh, PA → Titusville, PA
Distance: ~130 miles
Following the historic Oil Creek Valley to Titusville, PA—birthplace of the American oil industry. Drake Well, where the first successful oil well was drilled in 1859, marks where American industrial ambition transformed the world. The extension connects remembrance to origins.
Southern Extension: East Coast Greenway
Route: Washington, DC → Titusville, FL
Distance: ~900 miles
Following the East Coast Greenway through Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and into Florida—past sites of colonial settlement, Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields, and ending at Titusville, FL, gateway to Kennedy Space Center. The extension connects remembrance to aspiration.
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National Parks Along the Routes
These extensions would pass through or near numerous National Park Service sites, enriching the trail experience with American history and natural beauty.
EPT Extension (North)
- ●Oil Creek State Park
- ●Drake Well Museum & Park
ECG Extension (South)
- ●George Washington's Mount Vernon
- ●Colonial National Historical Park
- ●Fort Monroe National Monument
- ●Wright Brothers National Memorial
- ●Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- ●Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie NHP
- ●Fort Pulaski National Monument
- ●Cumberland Island National Seashore
- ●Castillo de San Marcos
- ●Canaveral National Seashore
About This Map
This map shows the existing 9/11 National Memorial Trail (solid lines) along with proposed extensions (dashed lines). The northern extension via the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail and southern extension via the East Coast Greenway are conceptual routes that would require coordination with trail partners, local governments, and communities along the way.