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).
when did the first new years eve ball drop
1907