Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop origin

The first Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop occurred on December 31, 1907, at the New York Times building and was organized as a public celebration marking the newspaper's move to One Times Square. The original ball was 5 feet in diameter, made of iron and wood, and illuminated by 100 light bulbs. The annual ball drop became an enduring large-scale public spectacle and the site at One Times Square is still the ceremonial location for the event.