NYPD officer proposes to girlfriend on New Year's Eve
A New York police officer proposed to his girlfriend on New Year's Eve
The ball drop in Times Square has a rich history.
The annual New Year's Eve ball drop in New York City brings over a million people to Times Square to count down the minutes to the New Year.
In addition to the large volume of people who head to NYC for the event, over a billion people tune in from home to watch the ball drop from the comfort of their couches or sofas.
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Here are more fascinating facts about the special event.
Check out these seven items!
- What are the origins of a ceremonial ball drop?
- When was the first ball drop in Times Square?
- Is the ball drop in NYC free?
- How big is the Times Square ball?
- What two years did the ball not drop in Times Square?
- How many versions of the ball have been made?
- When does the ball start to drop on New Year's Eve?
Over a million people go to Times Square every New Year's Eve to watch the ball drop in the city. (Alexi Rosenfeld/ Getty Images)
1. What are the origins of a ceremonial ball drop?
Holding a ceremonial ball drop to signify a specific moment in time dates back to the early 19th century.
A time ball was installed at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, in 1833, according to the Times Square official website.
The ball would drop every day at 1 o’clock, allowing nearby boats to synchronize their timing instruments.
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These time balls soon became common at naval academies and observatories — and eventually made their way to the United States, according to the site.
2. When was the first ball drop in Times Square?
The first Times Square ball drop took place in 1907, according to the website, though Times Square had become the focal point of the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations starting in 1904.
The first ball was made of iron and wood. It weighed 700 pounds and was emblazoned with 100 25-watt bulbs, according to the website.
An immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr was responsible for building the very first ball, according to the Times Square official website.
The ball drop has been a tradition in New York City since 1907. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
3. Is the ball drop in NYC free?
It is free to see the ball drop in NYC.
Viewing space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, according to the official Times Square website.
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You can also watch the ball drop from hotels and restaurants in the area, but that can come at a hefty cost.
4. How big is the Times Square ball?
The ball that drops in Times Square weighs nearly six tons and is 12 feet in diameter, according to the Times Square site.
It is made up of 2,688 crystal triangles and 32,256 illuminated LEDS.
Visitors can view the ball sitting high above Times Square throughout the year, although New Year’s Eve is when the spectacle can be fully experienced.
Through the years, the Times Square ball has received several alterations. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
5. What two years did the ball not drop in Times Square?
Only twice since 1907 has the ball not been dropped to commemorate the New Year.
The first was in 1942 and the second was in 1943, according to the Times Square website.
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Both years’ celebrations were scaled back due to wartime limitations placed on New York City.
6. How many versions of the ball have been made?
There have been seven different versions of the ball designed, according to the Times Square website.
After the original, there was a 400-pound ball created that was made of wrought iron.
This was later replaced by an aluminum ball in 1955 that weighed just 150 pounds, according to the source.
The New Year's Eve ball drop is a highly anticipated event. The streets, hotels and restaurants are all filled with those trying to catch a glimpse of the famous spectacle. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
In the '80s, for the "I Love New York" marketing campaign, the ball was decorated with red light bulbs and a green stem, the website says.
After that, the traditional white light bulbs returned.
A bit more technology was later introduced, with strobes and computer controls.
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For 2000, the ball was completely redesigned, with even more technology added, according to the site.
It was 2007, the 100th anniversary of the ceremony, when the ball as we know it now was created.
LED light technology was used, giving the ball a more modern and brighter appearance.
Leading up to the ball drop, A-list performers take the stage to entertain the eager crowd. (John Lamparski/AFP via Getty Images)
7. When does the ball start to drop on New Year's Eve?
The ball begins to drop 60 seconds before midnight, when the big countdown into the New Year commences.
There is plenty of entertainment that happens leading up to the main event.
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There are lots of musical performances for the crowd in-person and those watching at home.
Fox News Digital's Angelica Stabile, as well as Michael Hollan, contributed to this report.
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