Since the public opening on April 4, 1973, New York's iconic Twin Towers remained a symbol of the city up until the tragic September 11 attacks. Take a look back at the iconic structures throughout the years.
Not everybody, however, was on board for the massive undertaking. Oscar Nadel and his wife sign a boycotting World Trade Center petition outside his store Oscar’s Radios, located at 176 Greenwich Street in Lower Manhattan. The 1962 “Radio Row” protests included having a coffin lying in the streets with a sign that read, “Here lies Mr. Small Businessman. Don’t let the Port Authority bury him.”
Though the idea for the New York City landmark was first proposed in 1946, it was Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who looked at a model of the World Trade Center in 1964 with its architect, Minoru Yamasaki, that helped make the dream a reality. Yamasaki was the one who came up with the plan to have two towers, later known simply as the “Twin Towers.”
On Aug. 5, 1966, construction officially began. Here is a photograph taken that year of the location of the future World Trade Center along the Hudson River.
Here, a general view shows the beginning of construction on the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. Ironically, this 1967 shot looks eerily similar to how the site looked following the 9/11 attacks.
An aerial shot of Lower Manhattan shows the Twin Towers finally completed in 1975 after years of construction. In the foreground, a landfill is worked on to create what would eventually become Battery Park City. The World Trade Center site officially opened to the public on April 4, 1973. At the time, the two 110-story towers, designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki, became the world’s tallest buildings.
Commuters go about their day as they cross Vesey Street during construction on the World Trade Center in 1967.
Here is a view of the World Trade Center area under construction in 1967. The Pier foreground, seen in the center, holds reinforcing circles to be used for the building process.
The Liberty Street Ferry, seen here in 1967, had to be partially demolished to allow for the construction of the World Trade Center.
All but a handful of buildings in the eight-block area of construction are already taken down in this shot, snapped in 1967, looking northwest from the corner of Greenwich and Liberty Sts. toward Vesey and West Sts.
A seven-story high reinforcing cage, weighing almost 25 tons, is lowered into the ground on Liberty Street at West Street.
The first steel fountain was placed during the World Trade Center construction in 1968.
Workmen guide a 34-ton steel unit into place at Greenwich and Fulton Streets.
A photo shows a steel stockpile used in the construction of the World Trade Center at the Greenville Yards in Jersey City, New Jersey.
A south-looking aerial image depicts the Twin Towers during construction in 1969.
A photo shows the progress at the World Trade Center site in 1969, where a foundation and part of one of the towers are in place.
Here, another aerial shot shows the World Trade Center during construction in 1970. By the time they were finished, the Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world.
A worker stands on the top of one of the unfinished towers with the Empire State Building looming in the distance.
A view of the progress of the World Trade Center site is seen during its construction in 1970.
Construction workers put the finishing touches on the top floors of the Twin Towers during the final stages of construction.
No fear of heights here! Construction workers are seen on the top floors of the World Trade Center.
Dedication ceremonies in 1973 attract a standing-room-only crowd to the World Trade Center.
Lights, camera, action! Actress Jessica Lange is pictured on the set of the 1976 remake of “King Kong,” which was filmed at the World Trade Center.
Daredevil! George “Human Fly” Willig climbs up the South Tower of the World Trade Center on May 26, 1977.
Onlookers watch Daniel Goodwin from above and below as he scales the World Trade Center in 1983.
Climber Daniel Goodwin successfully scales the North Tower of the World Trade Center on Memorial Day, May 30, 1983. Goodwin made the climb after having already climbed the Sears Tower, Renaissance Tower and John Hancock Center.
On Feb. 26, 1993, a car bomb tore apart the bottom level of Tower One of the World Trade Center, killing six people in the explosion. Smoke quickly filled the tower and many were injured during the mass evacuation of the building. Here is a photo of police rescue efforts after the explosion.
Onlookers take in the 360-degree view of New York City as they stand at the newly refurbished Top of the World Observatory in tower two of the World Trade Center in 1997. The observatory was located on the 107th and 110th floors.
Aerial views of Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center in 1998.
Austin J. Tobin was the executive director of the Port Authority of New York from 1942-1972. After his death, the outdoor plaza of the World Trade Center, seen above, was named after him.
Here, tourists relax at the Austin J. Tobin Plaza on the foot of the World Trade Center. The plaza reopened after a $12 million dollar renovation in 1999.
With Governor Pataki (l.) and New Jersey Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco (r.) looking on, Larry Silverstein (c.) signs on the dotted line to complete the $3.21 billion deal in which the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hands over the World Trade Center Twin Towers and buildings 4 and 5 to Silverstein Properties for 99 years. Standing from left are Port Authority Vice Chairman Charles Gargano, Port Authority Chairman Lewis Eisenberg and CEO Peter Lowy of Westfield America, a partner in the deal.
A lasting image of the World Trade Center: The Twin Towers are seen on a sunny summer day in July 2001, less than two months before the 9/11 attacks.
It’s a day that will forever be remembered. Smoke and debris cover what once was the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack on Sept. 14, 2001.
