Spectators gathered in New York City on December 31, 1907, to ring in the New Year with Times Square’s first ball drop
For over a century, people across the globe have traveled to the heart of New York City on December 31 to watch a magnificent illuminated ball drop as they ring in the New Year. December 31, 1907, marked the very first ball drop in Times Square at the intersection of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street. A similar ball drop at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England—which originally helped ship captains synchronize their chronometers—inspired the Times Square ritual.
The ball served as a replacement for the fireworks set off in celebrations of previous years. Covered in 100 25-watt light bulbs, the ball was made of wood and iron, was five feet in diameter, and weighed in at 700 pounds—a mere fraction of the current 12-foot, 11,875-pound ball that will ring in the new year in Times Square. Despite its small size in comparison to today’s ball, it took a team of six men to place the ball on a flagpole atop the One Times Square building, where it made its debut descent.
Luckily for the spectators who crowded into the Square, December 31, 1907, turned out to be rather nice weather-wise. Despite starting out cloudy, skies cleared in New York City by the afternoon. The day saw a high temperature of 44°F and a low of 35°F, which was relatively warm compared to the current normal high of 40°F and low of 28°F for December 31. No rain or snow was recorded that day. But as the ball lowered at midnight, spectators were definitely in need of their winter coats as the 35°F temperature felt quite cool due to 20-mph west winds.
December 1907 New York City, New York, Meteorological Observation Form
NCEI is responsible for storing data like these surface weather observations for many locations across the globe. Our archive of environmental data is the largest in the world, with over 30 petabytes of digital data available to users—equivalent to over 100 years of 24/7 full HD video recording! A team of experts works to ensure the quality and integrity of these data for present and future generations.
Check out our infographic for an overview of Times Square’s first New Year’s ball drop.
Courtesy of NOAA NCEI
