<P> The most prominent celebration in the country is the `` ball drop '' held in New York City 's Times Square . Inspired by the time balls that were formerly used as a time signal , at 11 : 59 p.m. ET , an 11,875 - pound ( 5,386 kg ) , 12 - foot - diameter ( 3.7 m ) ball covered in panels made of Waterford crystal , is lowered down a 70 feet ( 21 m ) high pole on the roof of One Times Square , reaching the roof of the building 60 seconds later at midnight . The event has been held since 1907 , and has seen an average attendance of 1,000,000 yearly . The popularity of the spectacle has inspired similar events outside of New York City , where objects that represent a region 's culture , geography , or history are raised or lowered in a similar fashion -- such as Atlanta 's Peach Drop , representing Georgia 's identity as the `` Peach State '' , and Brasstown , North Carolina 's lowering of a live opossum in a glass enclosure ( an event which has historically attracted criticism from animal rights groups ) . </P>
<P> The most prominent celebration in the country is the `` ball drop '' held in New York City 's Times Square . Inspired by the time balls that were formerly used as a time signal , at 11 : 59 p.m. ET , an 11,875 - pound ( 5,386 kg ) , 12 - foot - diameter ( 3.7 m ) ball covered in panels made of Waterford crystal , is lowered down a 70 feet ( 21 m ) high pole on the roof of One Times Square , reaching the roof of the building 60 seconds later at midnight . The event has been held since 1907 , and has seen an average attendance of 1,000,000 yearly . The popularity of the spectacle has inspired similar events outside of New York City , where objects that represent a region 's culture , geography , or history are raised or lowered in a similar fashion -- such as Atlanta 's Peach Drop , representing Georgia 's identity as the `` Peach State '' , and Brasstown , North Carolina 's lowering of a live opossum in a glass enclosure ( an event which has historically attracted criticism from animal rights groups ) . </P>
when did the first new years eve ball drop
when did the first new years eve ball drop
1907
1907