What was the first object dropped in New York City's Times Square New Year's Eve celebration in 1907?

The first object dropped in New York City’s Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration in 1907 was an illuminated ball.

The original ball was made of iron and wood, covered with 100 light bulbs, and measured about five feet in diameter. It was lowered from a flagpole atop One Times Square to mark the arrival of 1908.

The event was created for the New Year celebration organized by The New York Times after the newspaper moved its headquarters to the building then known as Times Tower. The ball drop replaced a fireworks display that had been used earlier.

The ball has been redesigned several times. The modern version is much larger and uses Waterford crystal panels and LED lighting, but the basic countdown tradition remains rooted in the 1907 event.