Tightrope Walking the Twin Towers

The Twin Towers in New York City. sadly, had a short life (1971-2001) and catastrophic end, but only three years into their existence something remarkable happened at their summit 1,350 feet above the ground; a 25-year old Frenchman named Philippe Petit walked a tightrope between them, not once, not twice, but eight times, all within the span of an hour.

Without a safety net and aided only by a 20 foot-long balancing pole, Petit not only walked across the 130 foot span, he often stopped and bowed to the onlookers below, even going so far as to sit down and then actually lie down on the cable.

Needless to say, thousands of petrified onlookers, including pedestrians, motorists, early morning office workers and frustrated police, watched helplessly as Petit defied what seemed certain death. When police finally convinced him to abandon the effort, he was, much to practically everyone's amazement, found to be sane and proud of his accomplishment.

Read the story of Philippe Petit's amazing feat and what happened afterwards here.

(Photo: Jean-Louis Blondeau)


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