The first Times Square Ball was lowered in New York City in 1907.
The event was created by Adolph Ochs, publisher of The New York Times, after the newspaper moved its headquarters to One Times Square. A large New Year's Eve celebration was held there in 1904, but the illuminated ball itself was introduced three years later.
The original ball was made of iron and wood and decorated with 100 light bulbs. It was about five feet (1.5 meters) in diameter and weighed roughly 700 pounds (317 kilograms). The first descent was controlled by workers using a pulley system.
The ball tradition has continued, although its design and technology have changed dramatically. The modern version is covered with Waterford crystal panels and illuminated by computer-controlled LEDs. The ball was not lowered during some wartime celebrations, including 1942 and 1943, when blackout rules applied.