Phyllis Brown
The building of the World Trade Center in the 1960s was one of the greatest construction projects in modern history. These towering skyscrapers were more than just buildings—they represented the bold spirit of New York City and America’s rise as a global powerhouse.
The effort to create the Twin Towers was filled with new techniques, massive challenges, and the hard work of thousands of people. Starting in 1965, the World Trade Center’s construction completely changed Lower Manhattan.
Workers had to dig 70 feet down to reach solid bedrock for the foundation and use new methods like slurry walls to keep the site safe. It took 192,000 tons of steel and 425,000 cubic yards of concrete to build these huge towers.
With 10,000 workers involved, the project reshaped New York’s skyline and its place in global business. Although the Twin Towers were tragically destroyed in the 9/11 attacks, their legacy remains.
Through amazing vintage photos, we can see the World Trade Center rise from a construction site to an iconic symbol. These images show the incredible work and dedication behind this massive project.
1. An elevated view of the construction site for the World Trade Center, New York City, circa 1966
2. The pouring of first concrete for the World Trade Center in New York City, September 1966
3. Excavation of the World Trade Center site, 1968
4. Construction at World Trade Center in New York City on April 16, 1968
5. Steelworkers guide a 34-ton steel grillage—the first of 28 that will support the North Tower’s core columns—into place 70 feet below street level at the site of the World Trade Center in New York, Aug 6, 1968
6. Kangaroo cranes in position at the excavation site for the World Trade Center in New York, Dec 13, 1968
7. General view of World Trade Center under construction in New York City April 16, 1968. Tall white building seen along is the New York Telephone Building (not slated for demolition). Where seen the buildings on right are all going down up to the white building forward which is the Federal Building.
8. File card indexing AP coverage of planning for the World Trade Center
9. Construction at World Trade Center in New York City on April 16, 1968
10. South Tower and the slurry wall “bathtub” under construction in 1969
11. Construction in 1969
12. View of the World Trade Center under construction, with a sign announcing the completion schedule, circa 1969, New York City
13. The new World Trade Center under construction in New York City, August 1969
14. Aerial view of World Trade Center during construction, August 14, 1969
15. World Trade Center under construction at Varick St. and Hudson River in New York City on Jan 27, 1970
16. A view of a construction worker as he works of World Trade Center building in 1970 in New York City
17. A view of a construction worker as he works on the World Trade Center building in 1970 in New York City
18. World Trade Center from the construction site in New York City on Oct 20, 1970
19. Workers add a new section to the top of the World Trade Center Building in New York, Oct 23, 1970, making its height some 1,254 feet, four feet taller than the Empire State Building
20. Construction of one of the twin towers at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, New York City, on Oct. 20, 1970. In the background at right is the Empire State Building with its antenna
21. A 36-foot long, 4-ton column is hoisted atop the new world’s tallest building, the World Trade Center, still under construction in New York City, Dec 23, 1970
22. The rooftop of 1 World Trade Center nearing completion in 1971
23. The 1350-foot North Tower Building overlooks the historic St. Paul’s Church in the foreground, pictured Feb 11, 1971
24. New York at night, 1972
25. A late afternoon view of the NYC skyline, including the unfinished World Trade Center, from the wasteland that used to exist where Morris Canal Park is now, Fall 1972
26. The twin towers rise above Lower Manhattan on April 3, 1973. The 110-story, 1,350-foot buildings were set for formal dedication the following day. In the background, the Woolworth Building (left), and the Transportation Building (right)
27. World Trade Center’s Twin Towers seen from the harbor at night, 1973
28. Iron workers pose for a photo atop the North Tower of the World Trade Center, 1973
29. The Twin Towers pictured in this Lower Manhattan harbor view, 1974
30. Philippe Petit, a French high-wire artist, walks across a tightrope suspended between the Twin Towers, Aug 7, 1974
31. Aerial view of Lower Manhattan, 1975
32. World Trade Center, 1976
33. General view of the ground floor of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, May 24, 1977
34. George Willig scales the World Trade Center tower as police follow him on a window washer’s platform in New York, May 25, 1977
35. George Willig and Philippe Petit toast at the Windows On The World restaurant atop the World Trade Center on May 27, 1977
