Something So Sad Can Be So Beautiful: A Qualitative Study of Adolescent Experiences at a 9/11 Memorial

Adolescents frequently travel on school excursions or with their families, yet little is known about their experiences. Included in their destinations are historical sites that commemorate human suffering, including memorials associated with terrorism. The current study analyzed written responses from 133 adolescents who were participating in school excursions to the Flight 93 National Memorial. Qualitative coding suggests that adolescents grasped the importance of the memorial and were able to reflect on issues related to death and dying. Adolescents experienced negative emotions such as sadness, yet their feelings did not detract from the visit. This study sheds light on an overlooked adolescent visitor experience and reveals that school excursions to painful heritage sites may offer opportunities for adolescents to confront and discuss difficult topics, such as death and terrorism.