The Times Square Ball first dropped to welcome New Year’s Day in New York City in 1907.
The first ball was built for the New Year’s Eve celebration organized by The New York Times. The newspaper had moved its headquarters to the newly developed Times Building, now called One Times Square, and wanted a dramatic public event to mark the occasion. The ball descended from a flagpole at midnight on December 31, 1907.
The tradition continued through successive designs and materials. The original ball was made of iron and wood and illuminated with electric lights. Later versions became larger and incorporated aluminum, crystal, and sophisticated lighting systems.
A common mix-up is confusing the ball’s first drop with the first celebration in Times Square. The Times held its inaugural New Year’s Eve celebration there in 1904, but the ball tradition began three years later.