Hillary Clinton's supporters came in their thousands to cheer her victory - but instead they streamed out of her party venue in tears.
And just two miles away in Manhattan, Donald Trump's legions raised the roof, chanting 'lock her up' as their candidate romped home to victory.
It was a result that many of them never expected - and the slow realization by both sides that so many polls, predictions and assumptions were completely wrong led to astounding scenes in New York and around the country.
The Clinton party, held on 34th Street on the easternmost side of Midtown Manhattan, was billed as 'Hillary for America Election Night Event' and open to the public.
But sadly the American public didn't seem to be open to Clinton. And as her grip loosened on the country, the joy drained out of their eyes.
There was a resurgence as Virginia began to move towards Clinton, but that soon cooled as Clinton's chances slipped away once more. And there was no sign of the senior staff who had been expected to fill the floor.
In fact, until last week, the Clinton campaign was planning a fireworks victory display over the Hudson as early as 9.30pm. That plan would have been a damp squib had they pressed on with it amid falling approval polls in the wake of her FBI case being brought back into the public eye.
Clinton, meanwhile, was hunkered down in her hotel suite away from the party watching the dismal results.
In a traditional Clinton approach to press relations, reporters covering her party were frozen out of speaking to senior aides as she tanked in the election, and instead were reduced to texting and emailing to ask for updates.
The attitude at the Midtown Hilton, on 1335 Avenue of the Americas and a block over from Trump Tower, couldn't have been more different.
At the hotel, what looked increasingly likely to be Donald Trump's victory party remained jubilant and upbeat as state after state stayed on the board for the brash billionaire.
Trump's director of African-American Outreach said at the party that both candidates have written concession speeches, according to the Hollywood Reporter - but it became clear that his candidate would have no use for it.
The Hilton ballroom's stage was flanked with glass cases containing Trump hats and pins, and there were Trump TV stickers inside the Grand Ballroom, according to Washington Post video journalist Jorge Ribas.
It's not hard to imagine jubilant Trump reporters jumping on the items before they departed - if they didn't have them all before - as trophies of their jubilant night.
Some wondered why the party wasn't being held at his own Trump Tower, just five minutes' walk away, but the Hilton's size appeared to be key.
'The Hilton is huge,' crisis management firm president Helios Fred Garcia told the Washington Post.
'I don’t think it’s so much that he’s embarrassed to hold it in his own place or that his brand has been tarnished, but rather that he expects a large crowd. And so he booked the largest venue that he could.'
That proved to be a smart investment, as crowds, under the glare of a Trump-shaped victory cake, chugged their $11 beers - the cash-only bars charged from $7 to $13 - and cheered.
With Florida, North Carolina and Virginia turning out to be close races, the crowd cheered every time Fox News showed The Donald still ahead.
Cries of 'Drain the Swamp' dominated the chants, as many in the crowd donned red 'Make America Great Again' hats.
Omarosa, one of Trump's most potent surrogates throughout the campaign, worked the crowd happily posing for selfies.
Even when the state of New Mexico was called for Clinton, results showing The Donald ten points ahead received cheers from Trump's invited supporters.
When Virginia was called for Clinton, some air rushed out of the room.
With Montana added to the Trump column, however, cheerful chatter started again.
Colorado was called for Clinton, but that didn't matter to Trump's faithful, because the announcement of Trump's win in Ohio came right after.
There were screams and one very loud whistle.
Since 1904, Ohio has only been wrong about the winner of the presidency two times.
