Today in History
On December 31, 1904, a new tradition began in New York City: the first-ever New Year's Eve celebration at Times Square. Today, the Times Square ball drop is watched by millions of people worldwide, but it all started over 100 years ago, in a much smaller, simpler way.
The event took place in Times Square, which was originally called Longacre Square. The name was changed when The New York Times moved its headquarters to the area. Adolph Ochs, the newspaper’s publisher, wanted to celebrate the move by organizing a public event. Three years later, they would add the main feature of the celebration, the first ball drop, which was a simple iron and wood ball weighing 700 pounds and covered in 100 light bulbs. At midnight, the ball was raised up a flagpole at One Times Square and dropped to signal the arrival of the new year.
The first celebration was attended by about 200,000 people who gathered in Times Square to ring in 1905. It included fireworks and live entertainment, though the event was much smaller than the huge spectacle it is today.
As the years passed, the Times Square celebration grew in size and importance. The ball was redesigned and updated several times, incorporating new technologies, and by the mid-20th century, the event had become a symbol of New Year’s Eve for people all over the world. Today, the sparkling Waterford crystal ball marks the moment when millions of people worldwide watch the start of the new year.
The first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, which started in 1904, has now become one of the most-watched live events in the world, attracting millions of viewers and visitors to New York City every year. What began as a simple celebration in a changing part of New York City has grown into a beloved global tradition.