What is the name of New York City’s first New Year’s Eve ball, introduced in 1907?

New York City’s first New Year’s Eve ball, introduced in 1907, was the Times Square Ball.

The inaugural ball was lowered on December 31, 1907, to welcome 1908. It was built from iron and wood, measured about five feet in diameter, and was illuminated by 100 incandescent light bulbs. The first descent replaced a fireworks tradition at One Times Square after city officials restricted fireworks there.

The ball-drop idea was inspired by time balls, which had been used at ports and observatories to signal precise time. The Times Square version transformed that practical concept into a public annual spectacle. The event became a recurring feature of New York’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The design has changed substantially since 1907. Later balls used aluminum and crystal, while contemporary versions use Waterford Crystal and computer-controlled LEDs. The answer is not “the New Year’s Eve Ball” as a generic term: its established name is the Times Square Ball.