History of the Twin Towers

The Twin Towers are iconic in American architecture and were two of the buildings in the World Trade Center Complex. Designed by Minoru Yamasaki in 1962 and constructed by over 10,000 workers, the two towers remain as beloved structures tied to deep memories. 

Some of the memories include the unique stunts performed on them, which made the towers seem like toys that people can have fun with. The first stunt performed on the Twin Towers was in 1974 when Philippe Petit trekked on a high wire that he and his friends secretly secured across the two towers. Showing off his bravery and talent, Petit danced, knelt, and reclined on the high wire. Following Petit’s dauntlessness, a parachuter and two climbers ventured to the towers to participate in crazy stunts as well.

Although 9/11 is the most significant incident associated with the towers, their security first came into question in 1993, when a bomb exploded in the parking garage of the North tower. Six extremists were convicted for setting the bomb that killed six, injured over a thousand, and caused an estimated $600 million in damages. Twenty days later, the towers reopened, but new security measures were implemented. These included restrictions to the parking lot and electronic identification badges for building tenants.

The next major attack was on 9/11, where a hijacked plane crashed into the 94th to 98th floor of the North tower. The second hijacked plane struck from the 78th to the 84th floor of the south tower at an even greater speed. Before the towers collapsed, the fire and police departments and other emergency services helped 25,000 people escape. 

The Twin Towers are still celebrated and remembered 20 years after its destruction. However, in place of the towers, the One World Trade Center, or the “Freedom Tower,” construction finished in 2013. The new tower stands over 100 stories tall, offering a restaurant, pools, and a panoramic view of New York City. Near the new building, there is a memorial with the names of those who passed away from 9/11 that was opened in 2011. A museum was also later opened in 2014 as well to commemorate 9/11 and the 1993 bombing.