What Were the Twin Towers?

Discover the true story of the Twin Towers-how they came to be the tallest buildings in the world and why they were destroyed-in this informative account part of the New York Times bestselling What Was? series featuring 16 pages of photos.

When the Twin Towers were built in 1973, they were considered an architectural wonder. At 1,368 feet, they clocked in as the tallest buildings in the world and changed the New York City skyline dramatically. Offices and corporations moved into the towers-also known as the World Trade Center-and the buildings were seen as the economic hub of the world.

But on September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack toppled the towers and changed the course of U.S. history. Thousands of people were injured or killed, but the events that unfolded also resulted in an array of heroic and courageous efforts by firefighters, police officers, and civilians whose actions are still celebrated today.

Learn the whole story of the Twin Towers-from their ambitious construction in Manhattan, to their purpose as a major tourist attraction and business center, and finally, to their tragic end-in this compelling historical account of a "city within a city" that changed America forever.