The Times Square ball was once a 5-foot creation of iron and wood. Now, it measures 12 feet in diameter and is lit by more than 30,000 LEDs.

Although rain is forecast tonight for Times Square, where NYC's New Year’s Eve ball drop annually takes place, the program should be terrific and history will be made.

As NYC prepares for the 2025 New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square, here's a look at how the holiday tradition got started.