Growing up, I didn't see the NYC skyline from NJ while taking
   the bus. I knew it was there I suppose, but it was just a dark
   cloud of smog. By the late 80s, suddenly, I could see the Twin
   Towers. Amazing! Then by 2001, I stood on the 7th story of our
   parking garage at work and saw one of them standing and the
   other a puff of smoke. I was supposed to be there that week (not
   one of the knocked down buildings but across the street) for
   stupid training seminar I didn't need. 9/10- 9/15. I got out of
   it 'cause I was busy on a project and successfully pleaded to
   get out of it. Anyway, the anti-pollution laws allowed me to see
   at least one of the towers down with my naked eyes. So, there's
   that.