New York City’s World Trade Center was once defined by two matching 110-story skyscrapers known as the Twin Towers. Officially opened in 1973, the towers quickly became unmistakable symbols of the city and prominent features of Manhattan’s legendary skyline.

At their height, the Twin Towers housed nearly 500 companies and provided workplaces for around 50,000 people. Their history came to a devastating end on September 11, 2001, when the towers were destroyed in the terrorist attacks.

Today, visitors to the former World Trade Center site can explore the 9/11 Memorial Museum and memorial, learn about the events of that day, and spend time reflecting on those who lost their lives. The site is also home to the new One World Trade Center, which opened in 2014. Before exploring the present-day complex, it is worth looking back at the history of Manhattan’s once-iconic Twin Towers.

Origins of the World Trade Center

The idea for a major international trade center in Lower Manhattan dates back to 1946, when the New York State Legislature approved plans for a proposed “world trade mart” in downtown Manhattan. The concept had originally been developed by real estate entrepreneur David Sholtz.

The project remained on the drawing board for more than a decade. In 1958, David Rockefeller, who was serving as vice chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank, publicly introduced plans for a huge commercial complex containing millions of square feet of space on the eastern side of Lower Manhattan.

At this stage, the project looked very different from the World Trade Center that would eventually rise above the city. The initial proposal called for a single 70-story skyscraper rather than the pair of towers that later became famous.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey eventually took responsibility for supervising the ambitious construction project.

Protests and Changing Plans

The proposed development quickly met resistance from people who lived and operated businesses in the Lower Manhattan neighborhoods that were scheduled to be cleared for construction. Local residents and business owners organized protests against the plans, creating significant opposition to the redevelopment project.

As a result, the construction process was delayed for four years. During this period, the plans continued to evolve until a final design was eventually approved.

In 1964, principal architect Minoru Yamasaki presented the completed plans to the public. Rather than a single skyscraper, the revised World Trade Center would consist of seven buildings containing a combined 15 million square feet of space.

The most striking part of the design was the inclusion of two enormous towers. Each was planned to rise 100 feet higher than the Empire State Building, with the ambitious goal of making them the tallest buildings in the world.

Building the World Trade Center

Construction on the World Trade Center towers officially began in 1966. The North Tower reached completion in 1970, followed by the South Tower in 1971.

The buildings incorporated an innovative construction method that used steel cores together with a new drywall system. This approach meant the skyscrapers could be constructed without traditional masonry, making them the first buildings of their kind to achieve such enormous heights without relying on masonry construction.

The North Tower stood 1,368 feet tall, while the South Tower reached 1,362 feet. Each contained 110 stories, allowing the Twin Towers to surpass the Empire State Building and claim the title of the world’s tallest buildings.

The larger World Trade Center complex, consisting of the Twin Towers and four additional buildings, officially opened in 1973.

A New York City Landmark

The Twin Towers soon became much more than office buildings. They developed into major attractions and internationally recognised symbols of New York City.

In 1974, French high-wire performer Philippe Petit attracted worldwide attention when he walked between the tops of the two towers on a cable without using a safety net. His extraordinary stunt became one of the most memorable events in the towers’ history.

Two years later, in 1976, the celebrated Windows on the World restaurant opened near the top of the North Tower. Critics considered it one of the world’s finest restaurants, while its elevated position provided diners with spectacular panoramic views across New York City.

The South Tower offered visitors its own famous attraction. Its public observation deck, known as “Top of the World,” gave residents and tourists an opportunity to admire the city from high above Manhattan.

The World Trade Center also became a familiar presence on the big screen. The towers appeared in numerous films, including Escape from New York, the 1976 version of King Kong, and Superman, further cementing their place in popular culture.

Terror and Tragedy at the World Trade Center

The World Trade Center experienced an earlier terrorist attack in 1993. A group of terrorists placed a van containing explosives in an underground parking area beneath the North Tower. The resulting blast killed six people and injured more than 1,000 others, although the towers themselves did not suffer major structural damage.

The tragedy that occurred eight years later was on a vastly greater scale. On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked two airplanes and deliberately flew them into the Twin Towers.

The impacts triggered enormous explosions and fires, ultimately bringing both skyscrapers down. A total of 2,749 people died in the attacks at the World Trade Center.

Although the Twin Towers are no longer part of New York’s skyline, the World Trade Center site continues to hold an important place in the city’s history. The memorial and museum preserve the memory of the victims and the events of September 11, while the new One World Trade Center stands as a prominent part of the Manhattan skyline today.