Spire permanently installed on NYC tower
By Associated Press
May 10, 2013 6:58 AM CDT
Workers prepare to raise the silver spire atop the 1 World Trade Center building in New York early Friday May 10, 2013. The 408-foot spire will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna. An LED-powered light emanating from it will be seen from miles away. When it is fully installed on the building’s...   (Associated Press)

The silver spire topping New York City's One World Trade Center has been fully installed on the building's roof. That brings the iconic structure to its full, symbolic height of 1,776 feet.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the spire's installation was completed Friday morning. The U.S. declared independence on July 4, 1776.

Pieces of the spire were transported to the roof of the building last week. It weighs 758 tons.

The 408-foot (124.36-meter) spire will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna. An LED-powered light emanating from it will be seen from miles away.

The new tower is at the northwest corner of the World Trade Center site, which is well on its way to reconstruction with the 72-story Four World Trade Center and other buildings.

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