In observance of the horrific event that took place 12 years ago today, Gothamist compiled a gallery of photos of the Twin Towers. Most were taken from the 1970s and 80s.

While looking through them, I was struck not only by how iconic and imposing those towers were, but how much those images brought me back to my youth. This was the Manhattan skyline I grew up seeing, and the one that encompassed all the exciting possibilities in the borough I dreamed of living in.

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(Photo by Steven Siegel via Gothamist)