Longacre Square was renamed Times Square in 1904 following the establishment of The New York Times headquarters at One Times Square. The building became the focal point of a tradition that would come to characterize the region, the New Year’s Eve ball drop, attracting approximately one million visitors annually.

Over time, Times Square evolved. In the midst of the Great Depression, the region entered a period of decline. Times Square eventually gained a reputation for its crime, sex shops, and peep shows. The neighborhood became dangerous, leading tourists to avoid it; most New Yorkers kept their distance. During the 1980s, Rolling Stone magazine notoriously referred to Times Square as the “sleaziest block in America.”

In the 1990s, a transformation occurred due to corporate investments and a redevelopment initiative. Crime was reduced significantly and theaters were refurbished. Times Square changed from scary to a spectacle of characters with new hustles.

Street performers in faded Mickey Mouse and Batman costumes have taken the place of prostitutes, drug dealers, and hustlers. Today, Times Square stands as a cultural landmark and one of the most iconic intersections in  the world.