On This Day

Wednesday 7th August 1974

46 years ago

French daredevil Philippe Petit walked across a tightrope strung between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Shortly after 7 am local time, Petit stepped out on the wire and started to perform. He was 1350 feet (411 m), a quarter mile, above the ground. He performed for 45 minutes, making eight passes along the wire, during which he walked, danced, lay down on the wire, and knelt to salute watchers. The stunt caused a massive traffic jam on the streets below--1,350 feet below!. As crowds gathered on the streets, he said later he could hear their murmuring and cheers. When NYPD and PAPD officers learned of his stunt, they came up to the roofs of both buildings to try to persuade him to get off the wire. They threatened to pluck him off by helicopter. Petit got off when it started to rain.