World Trade Centers That Never Were (PHOTOS)

One World Trade Center, the skyscraper centerpiece of the new World Trade Center, is rising rapidly. After many false starts, it can now be seen from most parts of the city, and the the accompanying memorial plaza opens on the tenth anniversary of the attacks.

But it wasn't easy getting to where we are now. There were politicians, businessmen, citizens, widows and developers to please, and until the Port Authority began construction on the current 1 WTC, anything was possible. Indeed, wildly inventive proposals from the world's best designers were submitted to the city to rebuild up from the ruins.

Below are a few of the proposals that didn't make the cut. The highly detailed renderings show an alternate World Trade Center vastly different that what we will soon have, for better or for worse. Judge for yourself: