The first illuminated ball drop in New York City's Times Square New Year's Eve celebration occurred in 1907.
The first Times Square Ball was lowered on December 31, 1907, to welcome 1908. It replaced a fireworks display that had been used for New Year's celebrations atop the headquarters of The New York Times. The newspaper had helped give the square its name after moving there in 1904.
The original ball was made of iron and wood, decorated with electric lights, and measured about five feet across. The tradition continued through most years, although wartime blackouts stopped the public lighting in 1942 and 1943. During those years, crowds observed a minute of silence instead.
The modern ball is far larger and uses illuminated crystal panels and computer-controlled lighting. A common mix-up is assuming the ball drop began with the square's renaming; the first drop followed several years after the area became known as Times Square.