The dedication of the original World Trade Center took place 42 years ago today, on April 4, 1973. A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the completion of the Twin Towers’ construction.
At 110 stories each, 1 WTC, or the North Tower, and 2 WTC, the South Tower, provided nearly 10 million square feet of office space. Reaching over a quarter of a mile into the sky, they were the tallest buildings in NYC, and for a brief period, they were the tallest buildings in the world. As of 2001, the WTC housed more than 430 businesses from 28 different countries—roughly 50,000 workers. They attracted tens of thousands of tourists and commuters every day.
Minoru Yamasaki, the architect who designed the original WTC, said that the WTC “should, because of its importance, become a living representation of man’s belief in humanity, his need for individual dignity, his beliefs in the cooperation of men, and through cooperation, his ability to find greatness.”
By 9/11 Memorial Staff
