---
title: "9/11 memories remain vivid in the U.S. 25 years later"
description: "While 9/11 remains vivid in most Americans’ memories, 10% of adults today were born after the attacks and learned about the day’s events from others."
date: "2026-09-03"
authors:
  - name: "Jocelyn Kiley"
    job_title: "Director, Politics Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/jocelyn-kiley/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/03/9-11-memories-remain-vivid-in-the-us-25-years-later/"
categories:
  - "Terrorism"
  - "War & International Conflict"
  - "War & International Conflict"
---

# 9/11 memories remain vivid in the U.S. 25 years later

![Mia Hennen · Yesterday at 3:36pm Caption: The Tribute in Light illuminates the skyline of New York City on the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/09/SR_26.09.03_9-11-memories_featured.jpg?w=640)

It’s been 25 years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Many Americans remember the day with clarity: 83% of adults who were born before 2001 – including 93% of those who were 10 or older at the time – say they recall exactly where they were or what they were doing when they heard the news.

**About this research**

This Pew Research Center analysis looks at Americans’ memories of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

#### Why did we do this?

Pew Research Center does research to help the public, media and decision-makers understand important topics. We first surveyed American’s reactions to the 9/11 attacks in the immediate aftermath of those attacks and have regularly measured Americans’ views of the events of 9/11 and their attitudes on related topics throughout the past 25 years.

Learn more [about Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org/about/) and our [politics research](https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/politics-policy/).

#### How did we do this?

We surveyed 5,166 U.S. adults from August 24 to 30, 2026. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel. The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.

Here are the [survey questions used for this analysis](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/09/SR_26.09.03_9-11-memories_questionnaire.pdf), the [detailed responses](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/09/SR_26.09.03_9-11-memories_topline.pdf) and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/09/SR_26.09.03_9-11-memories_methodology.pdf).

### A quarter century later, 9/11 remains a powerful memory for Americans old enough to remember

*% who say they remember exactly where they were or what they were doing the moment they heard the news about the Sept. 11 attacks*

| Age | Share |
| --- | --- |
| 30 | 54 |
| 31 | 66 |
| 32 | 75 |
| 33 | 78 |
| 34 | 84 |
| 35 | 87 |
| 36 | 89 |
| 37 | 91 |
| 38 | 93 |
| 39 | 92 |
| 40 | 93 |
| 41 | 90 |
| 42 | 90 |
| 43 | 92 |
| 44 | 92 |
| 45 | 92 |
| 46 | 93 |
| 47 | 93 |
| 48 | 93 |
| 49 | 94 |
| 50 | 94 |
| 51 | 96 |
| 52 | 97 |
| 53 | 97 |
| 54 | 97 |
| 55 | 97 |
| 56 | 96 |
| 57 | 95 |
| 58 | 94 |
| 59 | 94 |
| 60 | 94 |
| 61 | 94 |
| 62 | 96 |
| 63 | 96 |
| 64 | 97 |
| 65 | 96 |
| 66 | 97 |
| 67 | 96 |
| 68 | 95 |
| 69 | 93 |
| 70 | 94 |
| 71 | 94 |
| 72 | 94 |
| 73 | 94 |
| 74 | 95 |
| 75 | 95 |
| 76 | 94 |
| 77 | 95 |
| 78 | 91 |
| 79 | 91 |
| 80 | 90 |

Note: Data shown for individual ages based on rolling five-year average by age.

Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Aug. 24-30, 2026.

But as the attacks grow more distant, the share of American adults who did not experience that day continues to rise: 10% of adults today were born after 2001 and know about the attacks only through what they have learned from others.

***Related: ****[25 Years After 9/11, a Portrait of Muslim Americans](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/09/03/25-years-after-9-11-a-portrait-of-muslim-americans/)*

A majority of these young adults – people who are 18 to 24 today – say they first learned about the attacks in class or through schoolwork (60%), according to a new Pew Research Center survey of 5,166 U.S. adults conducted Aug. 24-30. Smaller shares say they first heard about them from family or friends (16%), through reading or watching something on their own (8%) or some other way (1%). Another 14% aren’t sure how they first learned about the attacks.

The attacks had profound effects on the country. Polls conducted in their wake found widespread [fear, anger](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2001/10/04/americans-open-to-dissenting-views-on-the-war-on-terrorism/) [and sadness](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2001/09/19/american-psyche-reeling-from-terror-attacks/), along with overwhelming public support for [military action against those responsible](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/09/02/two-decades-later-the-enduring-legacy-of-9-11/#CHAPTER-u-s-military-response-afghanistan-and-iraq).

data essaySep 2, 2021

[      ](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/09/02/two-decades-later-the-enduring-legacy-of-9-11/)

## [Two Decades Later, the Enduring Legacy of 9/11](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/09/02/two-decades-later-the-enduring-legacy-of-9-11/)

Twenty years ago, Americans came together – bonded by sadness and patriotism – after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But a review of public opinion in the two decades since finds that unity was fleeting.

*Note: Here are the [survey questions used for this analysis](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/09/SR_26.09.03_9-11-memories_questionnaire.pdf), the [detailed responses](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/09/SR_26.09.03_9-11-memories_topline.pdf) and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/09/SR_26.09.03_9-11-memories_methodology.pdf).*