In 1907, a lighted ball was first lowered in New York City's Times Square to mark New Year's Eve.
The event was organized by the New York Times to celebrate the newspaper's new headquarters at One Times Square. The first ball was made of iron and wood, decorated with 100 25-watt light bulbs, and measured about five feet across. It weighed roughly 700 pounds.
The ball drop replaced an earlier fireworks display after city officials banned fireworks in the area. The tradition continued, although the ball was not lowered during several years of World War II because wartime blackout rules prevented the usual illumination.
Modern versions use illuminated panels and computer-controlled lighting, but the basic idea remains the same: the ball descends during the final minute before midnight. The Times Square ceremony is often called the New Year's Eve Ball Drop, while the object itself is commonly known simply as the Times Square Ball.