New Year S Eve Ball History

For more information on the past and present of the new year s eve ball itself please click here in 1914 the new york times outgrew times tower and relocated to 229 west 43rd street.
New year s eve ball history. The first new year s eve ball made of iron and wood and adorned with one. When the city banned fireworks in 1907 an electrician devised a wood and iron ball that weighed 700 pounds was illuminated with 100 light bulbs and was dropped from a flagpole at midnight on new. The conclusion of the ball drop.
The lighted ball is such a bright and meaningful symbol for ringing in the new year and has been around since 1907. History of the new year s eve ball. Et and resting at midnight to signal the start of the new year.
Seven versions of the ball have been designed to signal the new year. O n new year s eve americans may turn on their televisions and have a ball watching a sparkling orb be lowered from a flagpole at the top of one times square. The new year s eve ball drop in times square is a fun tradition that we look forward to with each coming year.
From its not so humble beginnings the new year s eve ball drop has grown in popularity for over 100 years. Revelers began celebrating new year s eve in times square as early as 1904 but it was in 1907 that the new year s eve ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop one times square. The times square ball is a time ball located in new york city s times square located on the roof of one times square the ball is a prominent part of a new year s eve celebration in times square commonly referred to as the ball drop where the ball descends down a specially designed flagpole beginning at 11 59 00 p m.
In the early 1900 s the new york times was purchased by publisher adolph ochs. Palmer inspired by the maritime tradition of dropping a time ball so sailors could adjust their chronometers while at sea devised the idea of dropping a lit up ball on new year s eve. On that occassion and for almost a century thereafter times square signmaker artkraft strauss was responsible for the ball lowering.
The event in times square has a unique history that has led us to the celebration we know and love today. Revelers began celebrating new year s eve in times square as early as 1904 but it was in 1907 that the new year s eve ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop one times square. By then new year s eve in times square was already a permanent part of our cultural fabric.