One World Trade Center Elevator Ride Show Animated New York Skyline From 1500s To Now

Sky pods show rise of New York skyline from 1500s till now on time-lapse rocket ride to trade center's top.
An imposingly realistic vision of 2 World Trade Center, the ultimately doomed south tower, will begin appearing next month in a most unlikely place: the five special elevators servicing the observatory atop the new 1 World Trade Center.

From the moment the doors close until they reopen 47 seconds later on the 102nd floor, a seemingly three-dimensional time-lapse panorama will unfold on three walls of the elevator cabs, as if one were witnessing 515 years of history unfolding at the tip of Manhattan Island.

For less than four seconds (roughly proportional to the time the twin towers stood), a jarringly familiar pinstripe facade will loom into view on one wall of the cab. Then, in a quick dissolve, it will evanescence.

There would have been no way around Sept. 11, 2001, said David W. Checketts, the chairman and chief executive of Legends Hospitality, the company chosen by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2013 to operate the three-level observatory.

“The event is certainly a key part of history,” he said. “We did not think you could ignore it. Having it appear in the year it did and disappear in the year it did was the respectful way of addressing the fact that it was part of the landscape.” Two World Trade Center was the site of the original observatory.

Mr. Checketts acknowledged that the plan to confront sightseers with an image of the old tower spurred a lot of debate within his own company and with the Port Authority and the Durst Organization, developers of the new tower.

“There were strong opinions and emotional reactions all around,” he said.

Whether the public regards the depiction as a tribute, as sacrilege or as a simple matter of fact awaits the opening of One World Observatory on May 29.

But from a documentary point of view, the brief presence of 2 World Trade Center in the time-lapse sequence is consistent with its generally high degree of historical fidelity.

[LWidebody]

This is definitely a respectful way to portray the history of One World Trade Center. Moving yet not overpowering. Simply stating this is what happened, rather than pushing emotions on you. Very nice.

[JackGriffin]

It was very sad seeing the other tower appear and dissappear like that. Immediately you'd most likely expect what happened to the tower.

[SupernovaOneFourOne]

That is so cool how it builds itself around you at the end... I did not expect that

[TheMightyThor]

A few weeks ago I went to the 9/11 memorial and afterwards went into the Freedom Tower. I loved the video on the ride up and afterwards, they show you a nice video about the tower and the screens rise up to show you the windows and you see one of the most beautiful views you'll ever see. The ride down is great, too.

[franciscromer]

The most chilling video I've seen in a long time maybe forever. The way those towers disappear, things I saw that day I'll never get rid of.

[CJUGames]

This is great. I'd probably just stay in the elevator a while to see everything.

[MOONSIP]

It's eerie and sad watching the tower disappear. Imagine how the Lenape felt, seeing their streams and ponds polluted, trees felled, and eventually the entire island evolving into a totally manmade environment, including Central Park.

[gzski]

Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 (not 1820) and Manhattan Bridge opened in 1909 (not 1875)... some minor editing can tweak that up!

[DARoman-ccvr]

Beautifully done. The one constant...the church.

[misterkefir]

Wow! that's soooo cool! such a great idea! Lovin' it!

[susanfimiani]

I just went up today and this is so amazing in person.

[TrevorBerridge]

Wow. That was amazing. Beautiful building.

[hanjizoe]

Did anybody notice the fade away sound when it showed the original world trade center on the left?
I sounded sad because of you know....September 11.

[Almondania]

The amount that we have pushed the coastline outwards is fascinating!

[VinceHere]

it's funny how many people noticed the only mistake in the time-lapse was the Brooklyn bridge being built in the 1820's.

there are others to point out to as well. 0:31 just as the twin towers disappear 4 wtc appears in 2002, when in reality it was completed in 2013, the same year 1 wtc was complete (i say 2013 because that is when their exterior construction was complete, 2014 is when they both opened.

[JaimeValladares]

This reminds one of two things:

1. The Glass Elevator scene from Willy Wonka
2. The scene from Futurama where time flies by when Fry got frozen

[tonywilliams]

Not super accurate time-wise. According to the video the Brooklyn Bridge was built in 1824. It was actually built 59 years later, 1883.

[Steve-iguz]

This is awesome. Very sad to watch one of the towers appear then disappear.

[TheCF]

If you look and listen closely, you can hear a bell ring around 1776, perhaps honoring the United States' Declaration of Independence promulgated that year.

[Mushe]

This should have ended by showing you the actual outside by shutting down the monitors.