New York — The view of Manhattan from the 100th-floor observation level of One World Trade Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Spencer Platt / Getty Images North America

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=84622

0

New York — Members of the media get a hard-hat tour of One World Observatory, on the 100th floor of the new One World Trade Center..

PHOTOGRAPH BY: STAN HONDA / AFP

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=84623

1

The Manhattan skyline is seen from the One World Trade Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Victor J. Blue

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=84632

2

A tug boat passes under the Brooklyn Bridge as seen from One World Trade Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: STAN HONDA / AFP

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=84631

3

New York — Pedestrians cross the street in lower Manhattan as seen from One World Observatory on the 100th floor of One World Trade Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Spencer Platt / Getty Images North America

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=84625

4

New York — The Manhattan Bridge as seen from the One World Observatory on the 100th floor of One World Trade Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Spencer Platt / Getty Images North America

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=84624

5

A view of One World Trade Center on April 2 as work continues on the tower.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: STAN HONDA / AFP

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=84626

6

New York — A view of the top of One World Trade Center on April 2 in New York. When completed, One World Trade Center will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 1,776 feet.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: STAN HONDA / AFP

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=84627

7

New York — One World Trade Center, under construction since 2006, officially surpassed the height of the Empire State Building on April 30, 2012, to become New York's tallest building. With its unfinished frame, the building stands at a little more than 1,250 feet high.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70026

8

New York — Ironworkers walk around the steel decking on the 100th story of One World Trade Center on April 30. New York's skyline got a new king that after the still unfinished World Trade Center tower, built to replace the destroyed Twin Towers, crept above the venerable Empire State Building.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Lucas Jackson / Pool

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70027

9

New York — Ironworker Billy Geoghan climbs down an iron column after attaching beams into place on the 100th story of One World Trade Center on April 30.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Lucas Jackson / Pool Photo

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70028

10

New York City — The National September 11 Memorial can be seen from the 90th story of One World Trade Center on April 30.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Lucas Jackson / Pool

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70029

11

Jersey City — People view Lower Manhattan from Jersey City as construction continues on One World Trade Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mario Tama / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70030

12

New York — One World Trade Center fills a gap between streets in Lower Manhattan.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mario Tama / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70031

13

New York — An ironworker eats lunch near the top of One World Trade Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Lucas Jackson / Pool Photo

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70032

14

New York — Ironworkers connect steel beams above the 93rd floor of One World Trade Center on March 23.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Lennihan

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70033

15

New York — Ironworkers weld steel decking at the top of One World Trade Center on April 30.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Lennihan / Pool

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70034

16

New York — One World Trade Center, as viewed from the 72nd floor of Four World Trade Center, towers over the Hudson River on Sept. 7.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70035

17

NEW YORK — Harry John Roland, aka "the World Trade Center man," has been entertaining and educating passersby in Lower Manhattan since shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks. He speaks with people on Aug. 15, 2011.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70036

18

New York — A commemorative steel beam is raised at the site of One World Trade Center on Dec. 19, 2006. Several 25-ton steel beams were erected, marking the first vertical construction of the planned 1,776-foot tower at the site of the Twin Towers.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=70037

19

New York — Reporters watch a column being lifted to the top of One World Trade Center, which made the building, still under construction, taller than the Empire State Building, reclaiming the honor as New York City's tallest skyscraper.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59971

20

New York — A view of One World Trade Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59972

21

New York — A view of the Empire State Building from One World Trade Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59973

22

New York — The sun reflects on a building at the World Trade Center site Monday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Julio Cortez / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59912

23

New York — An ironworker walks a steel beam at the new World Trade Center building on March 23.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Lennihan / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59914

24

New York — The new World Trade Center building towers above the Lower Manhattan skyline and Hudson River on March 26.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Lennihan / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59915

25

New York — The Empire State Building, center, and the new World Trade Center building, rear right.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Richard Drew / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59916

26

New York — An ironworker connects a steel plate to a column at the new World Trade Center building in December 2010.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Lennihan / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59917

27

New York — Smoke billows from the twin towers of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, with the Empire State Building in the foreground.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Marty Lederhandler / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59918

28

New York — The twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1972. The building had their ceremonial opening in 1973.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AP / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59919

29

New York — This May 1973 photo released by the U.S. National Archives shows ongoing urban development and construction on lower Manhattan's West Side, just north of the World Trade Center, right. The image was taken for the then-new Environmental Protection Agency's "Documerica" program, 1972-1977, to document subjects of environmental concern.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wil Blanche / U.S. National Archives

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59920

30

New York — New York's skyline as seen in 1930.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AP / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=59921

31