The Towers Lost and Beyond

The history of the World Trade Center can now be fully written. The buildings no longer exist, the site has been cleared and plans are beginning to emerge for the next manifestation of buildings and open space for the area bounded by Vesey, Liberty, Church and West Streets. The complete redevelopment of this area was brought about through the influence and interest of the Rockefeller brothers in the 1960s, and its utter destruction accomplished through the insanity of fanatical devotion to a radical and wealthy Saudi. The scorched site now seems to possess a great deal mo re past than any clearly imaginable future, despite the many proposals for redevelopment already being offered. While the morning of September 11, 2001 still echoes in our memories, these wounded acres of Manhattan Island are now no more and no less than what will be envisioned by the people of New York City. This chapter offers a brief history of the place, the process of development, design and construction and an introduction to several key figures in the making of the World Trade Center as we once knew it.