World Trade Center (1973-2001)

The original **World Trade Center** (**WTC**) was a large complex of seven buildings in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed during the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001. At the time of their completion, the **Twin Towers**—the original 1 World Trade Center (the North Tower) at 1,368 feet (417 m); and 2 World Trade Center (the South Tower) at 1,362 feet (415.1 m)—were the tallest buildings in the world. Other buildings in the complex included the **Marriott World Trade Center (3 WTC), 4 WTC, 5 WTC, 6 WTC, and 7 WTC**. The complex contained 13,400,000 square feet (1,240,000 m2) of office space and, prior to its completion, was projected to accommodate an estimated 130,000 people. Prior to it's destruction, HYDRA had attempted to purchase the entire complex and use it as their main secret base of operations in the state of New York, but were prevented from doing so, ironically because of fellow terrorists. As of 2014, they are currently attempting to ensure ownership of the modern complex, albeit discreetly.

## World Trade Center

### Notable Inhabitants

* S.H.I.E.L.D.
* HYDRA
* Port Authority of New York and New Jersery

### Population

* S.H.I.E.L.D.
* HYDRA
* New Yorkers

### Affiliation

* S.H.I.E.L.D.
* HYDRA

## Biography

### Construction and Opening to tenants and the general public

Construction of the World Trade Center began in the mid to late 1960s, in an attempt to help stimulate urban renewal for Lower Manhattan. The entire cost of of the complex's construction came up to 900 Million Dollars. Multiple donators pitched in to help pay for the construction costs. Those donators included Howard Stark and his company Stark Industries, S.H.I.E.L.D. (Also HYDRA; secretly), and multiple others. The design of the entire complex was made by legendary architect Minoru Yamasaki, who happily worked and collaborated with Howard Stark, the PANYNJ and S.H.I.E.L.D. to make the legendary complex come to life on April 4th, 1973.

### HYDRA’s Secret Tenure

At some point between the mid 70s and early 1980s, the terrorist organization known as HYDRA had secretly leased some floors inside the North Tower under an alias to appear as a normal company in the building like the other tenants. This would be become their main secret base in New York so that some of their more major operations wouldn't be detected while they were hidden inside of S.H.I.E.L.D. While they were there, HYDRA had attempted to and nearly came close to leasing and buying the entire complex for themselves so they could further enhance their plans of discreet global expansion and takeover. This plan failed as HYDRA's base inside the North Tower, along with the rest of the complex, was destroyed on September 11th, ironically by terrorists. The public as well as the rest of the world became aware of this when Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow released all of S.H.I.E.L.D and HYDRA's secrets and files on the internet.

### February 1993 and September 11th Terrorist Attacks

On February 26th 1993 the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists. They had attempted to make the North Tower collapse onto the South Tower, killing everyone in the building. Fortunately, they did not succeed the first time. Unfortunately 8 years later, on September 11th 2001, Hijackers flew America Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 into the North and South Towers respectively. The force of impacts from the planes and the subsequent fires that followed, resulted in the collapse of both Towers and the entire complex being destroyed. The rubble was cleaned up by the following spring in 2002.

### Chloe's Childhood

#### 1987-2001

Growing up in New York, Chloe Harper and her family and best-friends had visited the complex multiple times over the years. As a toddler, Chloe was brought to the complex with her parents and family whenever they were seeing the sites. As a pre-teen and teenager, Chloe would commonly hang out in the plaza between the Towers and visit the underground shopping mall almost every week with her best friends, Emelia and Lacy to frequently grab a bite to eat, have some quality girl time and go on heavy shopping sprees. She also has various framed photos of her along with her family and friends at the South Tower's iconic observation deck on it's top floor, and the North Tower's famous restaurant on it's respective top floor. In her adulthood, Chloe still has very fond memories of the World Trade Center even nearly 15 years after it's destruction.