The famous New Year’s Eve ball drop takes place in Times Square, New York City.
The first Times Square ball was lowered on December 31, 1907, to mark the arrival of 1908. Newspaper publisher Adolph Ochs organized the event for the headquarters of The New York Times, which had moved to the area then known as Longacre Square. The celebration helped promote the newspaper’s new location.
The ball has changed substantially over time. Early versions were made from iron and wood and lit with incandescent bulbs. Modern versions use illuminated glass panels and are lowered down a pole atop One Times Square shortly before midnight. The descent lasts about one minute.
The event was suspended during World War II blackouts in 1942 and 1943, when crowds observed a moment of silence instead. Despite that interruption, the Times Square ceremony remains one of the world’s most recognizable New Year traditions.