The famous New Year's Eve ball drop has taken place in Times Square since 1907.
The first celebration was organized by Adolph Ochs, publisher of The New York Times, to mark the newspaper's new headquarters in the newly named Times Square. A lighted ball descended from the flagpole atop One Times Square at midnight on December 31, 1907.
The ball drop became an annual tradition, although it was suspended in 1942 and 1943 because wartime blackout rules prohibited bright public displays. Revelers still gathered silently in Times Square during those years.
The ball has changed substantially. The original was made of iron and wood and lit with 100 bulbs, while later versions became larger and more elaborate. The current design is covered with Waterford crystal panels and is illuminated by LEDs. The event is now broadcast internationally, but Times Square remains its physical center.