The eighth episode of the award-winning series "New York: A Documentary Film" examines the rise and fall of the World Trade Center--from its conception in the post-World War II economic boom, through its controversial construction in the 1960s and 1970s, to its tragic demise in the fall of 2001 and extraordinary response of the city in its aftermath.

The film presents rare archival footage, including never-before-seen footage of the World Trade Center's architect, Minoru Yamasaki, at work on the project's design in 1962; and extensive interviews with commentators and experts including Guy Tozzoli and Leslie Robertson, the Trade Center's project manager and structural engineer, respectively, who recount firsthand their experience with the project's life and death. Joining them are many of the people who helped make sense of 400 years of New York's history in the first seven episodes of "New York: A Documentary Film" -- Pete Hamill, Mike Wallace, Robert A. M. Stern and Ada Louise Huxtable among them.

The film explores the urban, economic, architectural and symbolic significance of the great towers, their horrific demise, and the ongoing effort to come to terms with their loss.