Today In History: One World Trade Center Opens

On November 3rd, 2014 One World Trade Center in lower Manhattan officially opened; designed by the Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind, the tower, also known as "Freedom Tower", replaced the massive complex that was destroyed by Islamic militant terrorists on September 11th, 2001 when planes flew into the "Twin Towers" killing over 2,700 civilians. A cornerstone was laid in 2004, but slowness in development resulted as part of a larger effort: new offices, parks, a museum, and a memorial honoring the lost lives added significantly to the rebuilding of the site. New tenants included Conde Naste, the global mass media company, as well as other businesses, financial institutions, media and technology companies. The tower, shaped from octagon to rectangle, includes a spire of 1,776 feet -- a symbolic year which marked the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• Dunlap, D. W. (2008, Apr 09). Replicas Of New Tower Endure Nature's Fury and a Test Blast. New York Times (1923-)

• Bagli, C. V. (2010, Jun 17). For Ironworkers Up High, a Movable Feast: A Franchise Rises With 1 World Trade Center. New York Times (1923-)

• Dunlap, D. W. (2010, Sep 05). Up From Zero: 1 World Trade Center. New York Times (1923-)

• Bagli, C. V. (2011, May 12). In Design Shift, Trade Center Base Won't Be Covered With Special Glass. New York Times (1923-)

• Bagli, C. V. (2011, May 18). A Stylish Anchor For 1 World Trade Center. New York Times (1923-)

• Bagli, C. V. (2012, Sep 27). 3 Finalists To Compete To Operate Observatory. New York Times (1923-)

• Towering Construction One World Trade Center To Surpass Willis Tower As Tallest US Building. (2013, Nov 13). The Irish Times (1921-)

• Koblin, J. (2014, Jul 24). A Mad Dash To Points South. New York Times (1923-)

• Yee, V. (2014, Nov 10). Out Of Dust and Debris, A New Jewel Rises: Restored Fulton Center Hopes To Dazzle. New York Times (1923-)

• Chaban, M. A. V. (2016, Nov 20). The New Shapes Of New York: Apartment Towers, An Arena, a Salt Shed: These Are Some Structures That Have Lately Altered the Cityscape. New York Times (1923-)

Tips:

• Darton, Eric. Divided We Stand A Biography Of New York’s World Trade Center. New York: Basic Books, 2008. e-book

• McCarthy, Cecilia Pinto. Engineering One World Trade Center. Minneapolis, MN: ABDO Publishing Company, 2017. e-book

• Sorkin, Michael and Sharon Zukin. After the World Trade Center Rethinking New York City. New York: Routledge, 2012. e-book

• Trost, Cathy, Alicia C. Shepard, and Tom Brokaw. Running Toward Danger : Stories Behind the Breaking News of 9/11 . Lanham, [MD}: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2002. Oversize HV6432 .T76 2002

Images:

• One World Trade Center From New York Harbor, Wikimedia Commons

• Special News Slide, Courtesy of the Gottesman Libraries

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