The World Trade Center of New York City was originally comprised of seven buildings, spread all across the NYC burrow of lower Manhattan. While the concept was proposed in 1943, it was not built until David Rockefeller put the construction in motion. In total, over 10,000 workers were hired for the construction of the massive World Trade Center complex.
At the time of the World Trade Center’s initial construction, there were a number of concerns. However, despite it all, the World Trade Center would carry on. Beginning on August 5, 1966, it was completed by April 4, 1973. The structure was considered “a triumph of human imagination and will,”
The Gateway Arch Then
Situated in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, the historic Gateway Arch stands at 630 feet high and was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. The gate was constructed in order to honor founding father Thomas Jefferson’s vision for the transcontinental United States. In fact, it was originally named the “Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.”
Despite the construction, many citizens opposed the building, largely because of the substantial amount of public money that was being funneled into it. Ultimately, upon its completion in 1965, the Gateway Arch would forever serve as a massive symbol of national identity, as well as a prime example of “mid-century modern design.”
The Gateway Arch Today
In 1987, the Gateway Arch officially became a national landmark. Additionally, in 1974, the awe-inspiring structure would go on to rank fourth on the list of “most-visited man-made attractions” in the world, as well as one of the 10 most visited arches in the world.
Everything from lighting to security is carefully thought out by the National Park Service and rangers of the site constantly work to ensure the proper maintenance of the structure that holds meaning and purpose for so many Americans of the past, present, and future.
The Tragedy and Ground Zero Today
It was on this day—on 9/11–that the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center would fall in an act of brutal, extremist terrorism. 2,606 innocent people in and around the towers in the Financial District would be tragically taken. In addition to the lives of those taken on the ground, the 157 people on board the two hijacked planes that crashed would also be tragically killed during the terrorist attack. In the aftermath of these devastating attacks, the tragedy, though heartbreaking, inspired Americans to band together, supporting one another through the nation’s darkest hours.
The tragic loss of loved ones, combined with the shocking disappearance of the Twin Towers from the classic New York City skyline, will forever serve as a reminder to never forget what happened on the tragic September day. On September 12, 2011, a memorial to honor the victims, as well as the heroic efforts of the firefighters and first responders was placed at Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center once stood.
The Dharahara Tower Then
Built back in 1932 by Bhimsen Thapa—the “Machiavellian” mukhtiyar (chief minister) of Nepal, the Dharahara Tower stood tall over downtown Kathmandu, Nepal for nearly two centuries. Rising nine stories high from its base to the top, the monument was recognized as the tallest building in Nepal. This tower housed a spiral staircase, complete with 213 steps for any visitors brave enough to take on the challenge of hiking up to the very top of the structure.
But being in the Himalayan Valley and its terrifying proximity to an unstable fault line, the Dharahara Tower faced a myriad of environmental challenges since its construction. After standing through some formidable earthquakes, the tower's luck ran out. On April 25, 2015, Nepal’s most iconic landmark was reduced to rubble, after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook the nation.