The Sphere: A Remnant of the World Trade Center in New York

Among the monuments to see in Battery Park, don't miss The Sphere. This sculpture originally stood at the foot of the former World Trade Center.

What You Need to Know About the Sphere at the World Trade Center

The Sphere is a massive bronze sculpture on display in Liberty Park, a small park just south of the World Trade Center Memorial and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
Originally created in 1971 by German artist Fritz Koenig, this nearly 8-meter (26 ft) tall sphere was officially titled “Große Kugelkaryatide” (The Great Sphere Caryatid), but New Yorkers quickly renamed it “The Sphere.” The work symbolizes peaceful international commerce.
This 25-ton bronze sphere once stood directly at the base of the original World Trade Center towers, until the September 11, 2001 attacks. What you see today in Liberty Park are the remains of the sculpture, which miraculously survived the collapse of the Twin Towers.

After September 11, 2001, cleanup operations uncovered the dented sphere, and authorities decided to relocate it elsewhere in New York. The sculpture was temporarily installed in Battery Park, facing the Statue of Liberty.
Once the 9/11 Memorial was completed, officials decided to return the monument to its original location. “The Sphere is a symbol of strength and resilience,” said John Degnan, president of the Port Authority. “Restoring Koenig’s iconic sphere to its rightful place at the World Trade Center symbolizes our resistance to unspeakable horror and our commitment never to forget those who were lost on that tragic September day,” added Steven M. Cohen, vice president of the Port Authority.