Education & Community
Education & Community
The Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden exists not only to honor the past but to educate the future. For many students today, September 11, 2001 is history, something they read about, not something they remember. This page exists to bridge that distance, with resources for teachers, students, and families of every age.
The Documents Inside the Foundation
The Documents Inside the Foundation
One of the most powerful teaching opportunities the Memorial Garden offers is the story of what is sealed beneath it. Encased in the memorial’s foundation are copies of four documents that define American civic identity:
The Declaration of Independence
The United States Constitution
The Gettysburg Address
The Bill of Rights
Alongside these are a fragment of the aircraft from Flight 77 and the captain’s insignia wings donated in memory of the crew. These artifacts connect the Memorial Garden not just to a single day, but to the full arc of what America has stood for and defended.
For educators, this is a natural bridge between a 9/11 lesson and a broader civics curriculum. The question “Why did the builders choose to seal these documents here?” is one of the most generative discussion prompts a teacher can pose at this site.
How to Talk to Children About 9/11
How to Talk to Children About 9/11
Ages 5–8 — Focus on the Helpers
At this age, focus on the people who ran toward danger to help others, firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and ordinary people who helped their neighbors. The Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden was built to honor exactly those people.
When visiting with young children, focus on: the firefighters whose station is right next to the Memorial Garden, the names on the plaques as a way of talking about remembering people we love, and the flowers and greenery as symbols of life and hope.
Ages 9–12 — Historical Context
Children in this age range are ready for more context: what happened, in what order, and how the country responded. The timeline of the day: 8:46 AM, 9:03 AM, 9:37 AM, 10:03 AM can be walked through clearly. The Memorial Garden provides a physical anchor for each of the three crash sites: the Twin Towers replicas, the Pentagon-shaped base, and the Shanksville greenery.
The Guided Exploration is particularly well-suited for this age group as a guided way to explore the Memorial Garden’s symbolism.
Teenagers — Bigger Questions
Teenagers can engage with the deeper questions this memorial raises: Why do communities build memorials? What does it mean to remember collectively? Who decides what gets commemorated and how? The Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden is funded entirely by private donations, built by volunteers, designed by architects who donated their expertise. This is a wonderful case study in civic action and community.
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Annual Remembrance Ceremony
The annual September 11 ceremony at the Memorial Garden is one of the most meaningful civic gatherings in Beverly Hills each year. Student participation, whether attending as part of a class, performing as a member of the Beverly Hills High School Madrigal Singers, or simply witnessing the ceremony, is a living expression of the intergenerational mission the memorial was built to fulfill. The ceremony is free and open to all.
City of Beverly Hills Staff
A special thank you to the many employees of the City of Beverly Hills for their ongoing support of the Memorial Garden, the annual ceremony, and the community outreach efforts that keep this memorial alive and meaningful year after year.
Rotary Club of Beverly Hills
The Rotary Club of Beverly Hills was the first organization to formally partner and financially support the Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden. Their early commitment secured the funds needed to transport the nearly one-ton WTC steel beam from New York to Los Angeles, the critical first step that made the entire memorial possible. The Rotary Club of Beverly Hills continues to be a steadfast partner in the memorial's mission.
Beverly Hills High School Madrigal Singers
The Beverly Hills High School Madrigal Singers perform at the annual ceremony each year, one of the most direct expressions of the Memorial Garden's connection to the city's young people. Their participation is both an honor and a responsibility: the students who perform are a living bridge between those who remember September 11 and those who never can.
Links to Additional Resources