The World Trade Center in 2005
The World Trade Center is a building complex located in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. It was built between 1966 and 1975 and remains one of the most important commercial centers in the US and the world. It features the Twin Towers (1 WTC and 2 WTC), which at a height of 1,362 ft (415 m) are among the tallest buildings in the world, as well as Marriott World Trade Center (3 WTC), 4 WTC, 5 WTC, 6 WTC, and 7 WTC. The complex contains 13,400,000 square feet (1,240,000 m²). The Twin Towers surpassed the Empire State Building as the tallest building in the world, which held the record at a height of 1,250 feet (381 meters) tall from it's constructed in 1931 until the Twin Towers were constructed in the early 1970's.
The World Trade Center symbolizes globalization and the economic power of America. Although its design was initially criticized by New York citizens and professional critics, the Twin Towers became a quintessential icon of New York City just like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. It has a major role in popular culture, appearing in hundreds if not thousands of films, TV shows, and games.
History[]
The idea of establishing a World Trade Center in New York City was first proposed in 1943, but would not come to fruition until the 1960s. It was suggested by David Rockefeller and others to help stimulate urban renewal in Lower Manhattan, since at the time economic growth in the city was concentrated in Midtown Manhattan. The buildings were designed by Japanese-American architect Minoru Yamasaki, and the core complex was built between 1966 and 1975, during the presidencies of Nelson Rockefeller, Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew, at a cost of $400 million (equivalent to $3.56 billion in 2022).
The Twin Towers were used in French high-wire artist Philippe Petit's tightrope-walking performance on August 7, 1974.
In February of 1975, a fire spread throughout the 9th to 14th floors of the North Tower. However, fireproofing protected the steel and there was no structural damage to the tower or injuries.
On February 20, 1981, radar signals indicated that an Aerolíneas Argentinas airliner was on a collision course with the North Tower (1 WTC). The aircraft, which had departed from José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador and was scheduled to land at nearby RFK Airport, was then guided away by air traffic controllers. It was flying at a much lower altitude than regulations recommended.
In January 1998, Ralph Guarino, a member of the American-Italian Mafia, gained maintenance access to the complex and arranged a three-man crew for a heist that netted over $2 million from a Brinks delivery to the North Tower's 11th floor.
The 2022 New Year's celebration
Arabia's then-Director of Intelligence Abdulaziz bin Rashid is rumored to have successfully thwarted a suicide mission that was planned to attack the United States by flying planes into the World Trade Center in September 2001, earning him much praise.
In April 2003, there was a bombing attempt at the buildings by a radical socialist group called New Confederation, which seeks to avenge and reestablish the Socialist Confederacy. The plan was foiled by a joint operation of American and Confederate polices and intelligence agencies, and many were arrested and placed on terrorism charges, including the main leader of the group, Billy T. Robinson.
On July 30, 2008, a second unauthorized tightrope walking between the Towers was successfully performed by Italian-Brazilian artist Adelina Ricceli. On March 12, 2010, Argentine tightrope walker Ricardo de La Cruz attempted the same but lost his balance and fell to his death, a tragic accident that made worldwide headlines. Security of the buildings was severely improved and all subsequent similar attempts were thwarted.
In 2011, the World Trade Center made once again headlines when the powerful Arabian businessman and magnate Osama bin Laden partook on an important meeting in the North Tower.
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