The annual New Year's Eve ball drop has been held in Times Square since 1907.
The tradition began on December 31, 1907, when an illuminated ball was lowered from the flagpole atop One Times Square. Newspaper publisher Adolph Ochs introduced the spectacle to draw crowds to the newly renamed Times Square and promote the New York Times headquarters.
The ball drop replaced a fireworks display that had been staged above the building. The event was suspended during 1942 and 1943 because wartime blackout rules prevented the usual lighting, although crowds still observed midnight with a minute of silence and church bells.
Modern versions use a much larger illuminated sphere covered with Waterford crystal panels and LED lights. Although the ball itself is lowered only during the final minute of the year, the celebration includes musical performances, confetti and a large gathering around Broadway and Seventh Avenue.