|
|
Article: World Trade Center ranked as world's biggest commercial complex.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- September 12, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
MIAMI _ The World Trade Center towers, which opened in 1970, were the world's tallest buildings for only a year, before being eclipsed by the Sears Tower.
But for decades until Tuesday's tragedy, they were a potent symbol of the muscle and grace of American commerce.
The twin, 110-story towers stretched up more than a quarter mile into the sky, eclipsing the Empire State Building and radically altering Manhattan's skyline.
That symbolism, unfortunately, was recognized by America's enemies as well. When the center was bombed before, in 1993, documents the FBI found on one conspirator said the group's intent was to demoralize America by blowing ...