Video: 'Twin Towers: A History - Documentary'
(Wednesday, April 4, 1973, morning EST) — The original World Trade Center (WTC), a large complex of seven buildings — including of the two world’s tallest at the time — in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City, was formally dedicated today.
At the time of their completion, the Twin Towers — the original 1 World Trade Center (the North Tower) at 1,368 feet and 2 World Trade Center (the South Tower) at 1,362 feet — were the tallest buildings in the world at 110 stories high.
Other buildings in the complex included the Marriott World Trade Center (3 WTC), 4 WTC, 5 WTC, 6 WTC, and 7 WTC. The complex contained 13.4 million square feet of office space and, prior to its completion, was projected to accommodate an estimated 130,000 people.
The core complex was built between 1966 and 1975, at a cost of $400 million (equivalent to $3.56 billion in 2022).
The idea was suggested by David Rockefeller to help stimulate urban renewal in Lower Manhattan, and his brother, Governor Nelson Rockefeller, signed the legislation to build it.
The buildings at the complex were designed by Minoru Yamasaki.
In 1998, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey decided to privatize it by leasing the buildings to a private company to manage. It awarded the lease to Silverstein Properties in July 2001.
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During its existence, the World Trade Center symbolized globalization and the economic power of America.
Although its design was initially criticized by New York citizens and professional critics, the Twin Towers became an icon of New York City. It had a major role in popular culture, and according to one estimate was depicted in 472 films.
The World Trade Center experienced several major crime and terrorist incidents, including the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, when Al-Qaeda-affiliated hijackers flew two Boeing 767 jets into the Twin Towers, respectively.
Between 16,400 and 18,000 people were in the Twin Towers when they were struck.
The fires from the impacts were intensified by the planes’ burning jet fuel, which along with the initial damage to the buildings’ structural columns, ultimately caused both towers to collapse.
The attacks in New York City killed 2,606 people in and within the vicinity of the towers, as well as all 157 on board the two aircraft.
Falling debris from the towers, combined with fires that the debris initiated in several surrounding buildings, led to the partial or complete collapse of all the WTC complex’s buildings including 7 World Trade Center, and caused catastrophic damage to 10 other large structures in the surrounding area.
