History of the Times Square Ball Drop

Before time zones, cities used solar time, causing issues for sailors. The Royal Navy introduced time balls for calibration. The New York Times started a New Year's Eve tradition in Times Square, inspired by these time balls. The ball drop became a tradition in 1907, only paused during WWII.

What was the primary reason each city kept its own time before time zones were established?

• To align with the Sun's position

• To synchronize with neighboring cities

• To accommodate local festivals

• To follow the Royal Navy's guidelines

What technological advancement made time balls unnecessary?

• The introduction of time zones

• The invention of the wristwatch

• The development of self-winding clocks

• The creation of digital clocks

Where did New Yorkers originally gather to celebrate New Year's Eve before the Times Square tradition?

• Trinity Church

• Empire State Building

• Brooklyn Bridge

• Central Park

What inspired the New York Times to create the Times Square ball drop?

• A suggestion from the mayor

• Old naval time balls

• A ban on fireworks

• A desire to outdo other cities

In what year did the Times Square ball drop tradition begin?

• 1899

• 1945

• 1907

• 1920

Why was the Times Square ball drop paused during World War II?

• Due to a lack of materials

• Because of a city-wide blackout

• To prevent the bright lights from being a target

• Because of a labor strike

What was used instead of the ball drop during World War II?

• A parade

• Fireworks

• A light show

• Chimes