New Years New York

Times Square is the place to be when the clock strikes midnight on January 1!

It all started in 1904.  The New York Times newspaper was moving its offices to, what was then, Longacre Square.  The paper convinced the City to re-name the square for the newspaper - Times Square.  After all, it would only be fair!  The other major newspaper in town at the time, the New York Herald, had a square – Herald Square (of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade fame).  So, the City agreed.

The New York Times built what was then the second tallest building in the City to house its new offices(One Times Square from which the New Year’s Eve ball now drops).  In celebration of its official openning in Times Square on January 1, 1904, the New York Times invited the City to an all day celebration on New Year’s Eve.  The celebration ended with a fireworks display at midnight, signaling the official opening of the New York Times new home in Times Square.

New Year's Eve in Times Square - that's me way in the back

 Well, it was quite a party and if you know New Yorkers – we love our parties (just look at the picture to the right)!  So, the New York Times continued the New Year’s Eve tradition.  Well, some party pooper from the Fire Department put an end to the fireworks after two years.  He claimed we were going to burn the City down.  But that would not stop the Times (its such a party paper!).  The Times had a lit ball fashioned which it lowered from its tall office tower on the final countdown to midnight -a tradition which continues to this very day (as long as today is December 31).

So, if you are with us New Year’s Eve on one of our New York City tours and want to stop off at the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square   . . .   sorry, you’ll have to go by yourself.