Hidden Gems Of Connecticut: The State's 9/11 Memorial

WESTPORT, CT — This week's Gem is not necessarily hidden, because its in the middle of a state park on Long Island Sound, but in the spirit of remembering those affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks brought us there.

Welcome to Connecticut's 9/1 Living memorial at Sherwood Island State Park.

The memorial features a 9-foot polished granite stone monument reads:

"The citizens of Connecticut dedicate this living memorial to the thousands of innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001 and to the families who loved them."

State officials say the site at Sherwood Island was chosen because from "the point" visitors can get a panoramic view of lower Manhattan where the World Trade Center once stood. Many folks gathered there to look on in horror as smoke billowed from Ground Zero. Later, the park served as the staging area for Connecticut’s resources being directed to support the New York disaster recovery effort.

Sherwood Island State Park is open to the public year-round.

____

The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Connecticut. Other columns in this series for 2021 include:

• Club Champion Golf Fitters
• New England Civil War Museum and Research Center
• Avery's Soda
• Salt 2.0 Restaurant
• The Grave of Jonathan, The Original Husky
• Golden Gavel Auction House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• The Cogswell Temperance Fountain
• The Old State House
• BouNom Bakery
• Union Pond Park/Jay Howroyd Fitness Trail
• The Submarine Force Museum/USS Nautilus
• The UConn Dairy Bar
• Grove Hill Cemetery, Vernon
• Backwoods Smokin' BBQ
• The Ranch House
• Connecticut State Police Museum
• Berlin Historic District
• Connecticut Parachutists Skydiving Club
• Tail Winds Ice Cream Shop
• The MLK Mural
• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Fork & Fire
• Lena's Italian Kitchen
• The Benedict Arnold Trail
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner

To register for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.