In the 1907 New York Times New Year's Eve celebration, what replaced the canceled fireworks display?

In the 1907 New York Times New Year’s Eve celebration, an illuminated time ball replaced the canceled fireworks display.

The New York Times organized a large celebration to promote its new headquarters in Longacre Square, which was renamed Times Square in 1904. Fireworks had been planned for the rooftop, but city restrictions led organizers to use a time ball instead. The first ball descended at midnight on December 31, 1907.

Time balls were already used in the nineteenth century to signal a precise time to ships and observatories. A ball dropped from a mast gave observers a visible time signal, making the idea a fitting replacement for fireworks and a natural countdown device.

The first Times Square ball was made of iron and wood and decorated with electric lights. Later versions became larger and more elaborate, eventually leading to the crystal-covered sphere used today. The enduring ball drop began as an adaptation to a fireworks restriction.