Which New Year's Eve ball drop began in Times Square in 1907?

The Times Square Ball drop began in New York City's Times Square in 1907.

The first Ball was lowered from the flagpole atop One Times Square on December 31, 1907, to mark the arrival of 1908. Newspaper publisher Adolph Ochs arranged the event as a replacement for a fireworks display, creating a visible public countdown.

The tradition has continued with interruptions, including wartime dimouts in 1942 and 1943, when the Ball was not illuminated or lowered. The Ball has changed in size, materials, and lighting technology over the decades. The modern crystal-covered Ball is therefore not the same physical object as the original iron-and-wood version.