The original World Trade Center was a large complex of seven buildings in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. It opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks.

The Twin Towers in the 1970s

At the time of their completion, the Twin Towers—the original 1 World Trade Center, at 1,368 feet (417 m); and 2 World Trade Center, at 1,362 feet (415.1 m)—were the tallest buildings in the world. Other buildings in the complex included the Marriott World Trade Center (3 WTC), 4 WTC, 5 WTC, 6 WTC, and 7 WTC. The complex contained 13,400,000 square feet (1,240,000 m2) of office space.

During its existence, the World Trade Center was an icon of New York City. It had a major role in popular culture and according to one estimate was depicted in 472 films.

Take a look at these fascinating color photos from World Trade Center Photo Archives (Official) to see beautiful scenes of the Twin Towers during the 1970s.

World Trade Center under construction, 1970

 

Aerial view from lower West Side with new World Trade Center’s Twin Towers (fore) against background of Manhattan, 1971

 

The World Trade Center, 1971

 

The World Trade Center, 1971

 

The WTC going up, 1971

 

New York night life, 1972

 

WTC during sunset back in 1972

 

A view of lower Manhattan, New York City seen from a ferry, 1973

 

Aerial view of the World Trade Center, 1973

 

Empire overshadowed, 1973

 

Garbage day, 1973

 

Nearing completion, 1973

 

The World Trade Center, 1973

 

The World Trade Center, 1973

 

The World Trade Center, 1973

 

Towers of the World Trade Center, 1973

 

Trash and Twins, 1973

 

World Trade Center’s Twin Towers seen from the harbor at night, 1973

 

Yesterday’s night, 1973

 

Golden Towers, 1974

 

Good morning New York, 1974

 

New York’s golden skyline, 1974

 

Rockefeller view, 1974

 

Aerial view of Lower Manhattan, 1975

 

Lower Manhattan, 1975

 

Washington Square Twins, 1975

 

Aerial view of the World Trade Center towers and surrounding buildings of lower Manhattan, 1976

 

Bicentennial, 1976

 

New York’s nightlight, 1976

 

World Trade Center aerial, 1976

 

World Trade Center Bicentennial, 1976

 

World Trade Center, 1976

 

World Trade Center, 1976

 

World Trade Center, 1976

 

World Trade Center, 1976

 

Blackout, 1977

 

Lovely day for a sail, 1978

 

New York City view from Jersey City, 1978

 

WTC, 4th of July 1978 from Exchange Pl. Jersey City, 1978

 

Antenna view from 1,728 feet above New York, 1979

 

Twins of New York, 1979

 

World Trade Center, 1979