Learn how to fold a $20 bill to create an image of the World Trade Center

Some people believe that a conspiracy surrounds the newest version of the $20 bill. The bill, redesigned in 1998, is suspected by some to have foretold the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. While the conspiracy should be taken with a grain of salt, it’s true that with a simple geometric fold, you can transform the American $20 bill into an image that resembles the tragedy of the attack on the Twin Towers. Read on to learn how to reveal the towers.

Things You Should Know

  • Fold the bill in half lengthwise with the front of the bill facing into the fold.
  • Fold the left-hand side backwards and up behind the bill, so that it sticks straight up behind the bill.
  • Fold the right side of the bill the same way you folded the left side, then flip the bill over to reveal the Twin Towers.
4

Turn the bill over to the smooth side.

  1. With the pointed end facing down, look for the Twin Towers rising from the point and burning on either side of the crease. The eaves of the White House have become the towers, and the trees that flank the White House have become the smoke from the ruined buildings.[3]
    • Though the $20 bill is the bill most commonly used to create origami renderings of the attack on the Twin Towers, you can create the same effect using other bills, including the $5 and the $50 bills.[4]
5

Take the conspiracy theory with a grain of salt.

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Is this $1 compatible? I'm poor.
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, the $1 bill does not have the same design and will not give you the same image. You can still do the folding pattern if you want, but you may not end up with anything interesting.
  • Question
    Can I make it with a 1 dollar bill?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, it's not the same picture on the bill.
  • Question
    Can I do this with a five dollar bill?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can also get a picture of Twin Towers with a five dollar bill, but the instructions would be different. You should be able to find guides online that will show you how to fold a five dollar bill into an image of the Twin Towers.
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About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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7 votes - 83%
Co-authors: 13
Updated: January 28, 2023
Views: 383,549
Categories: Origami
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