The Unbelievable History of Earth's Tallest Structures

From the dawn of civilization to the present day, humanity has been driven to build ever higher. But what is the tallest man-made structure to have ever graced our planet? The answer might surprise you.

The Great Pyramid of Giza: An Early Ambition

Around 2550 B.C., Pharaoh Khufu embarked on a monumental project: the Great Pyramid of Giza. This wasn't just a tomb; it was a statement. Constructed with over two million stone blocks, each weighing several tons, the pyramid stood as a testament to human ingenuity and the pharaoh's ambition.

Originally, the pyramid was covered in white limestone, giving it a brilliant appearance.
At its completion, it reached a height of 481 feet (147 meters).
The Great Pyramid held the title of the tallest structure for nearly 4,000 years.

Contrary to popular belief, the workforce consisted of skilled tradesmen and laborers, not slaves. Archaeological evidence suggests they were well-fed and housed, a testament to the organizational capabilities of the ancient Egyptians.

Lincoln Cathedral: Reaching for the Heavens

In 1311, the Lincoln Cathedral in England surpassed the Great Pyramid. Topped with a central spire, it reached a height of 524 feet (160 meters). Religious spires became the primary contenders for the title of tallest structure.

The cathedral took approximately 200 years to build.
Its prized spire stood for nearly 240 years before collapsing in a storm in 1548.

The Washington Monument: A Nation's Tribute

Construction of the Washington Monument began in 1848 to honor the first president of the United States. After nearly 40 years, the commemorative structure was erected to a height of 555 feet (169 meters), surpassing even the tallest church spires of the time.

The Eiffel Tower: An Icon of Innovation

In 1889, France unveiled the Eiffel Tower, a wrought-iron lattice structure built to celebrate the Centennial of the French Revolution. This architectural marvel stood at a staggering 984 feet (300 meters), nearly double the height of the Washington Monument.

The Eiffel Tower was designed to be light and airy, yet strong.
It took just over two years to complete.
Originally intended to be dismantled after 20 years, it was saved by the addition of a broadcasting antenna.
In 1957, the addition of the antenna pushed the tower's overall height to 1,063 feet (324 meters).

The Skyscraper Race: Chrysler Building vs. Empire State Building

The early 20th century saw the rise of skyscrapers, particularly in the United States. A fierce competition emerged between Walter P. Chrysler and the Bank of Manhattan to build the tallest building in New York City.

The Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building, an Art Deco masterpiece, briefly held the title of the tallest building in the world. At 77 stories, it reached a height of 1,046 feet (318.8 meters).

The Empire State Building

Just one year later, the Empire State Building surpassed the Chrysler Building. Designed to be the world's first building to exceed 100 stories, it reached a height of 1,250 feet (381 meters). The construction provided employment during the Great Depression and was completed in just 410 days.

The Unlikely Challenger: Television Towers

In the mid-1950s, television gained popularity, leading to the construction of tall towers to broadcast signals. The Griffin Television Tower in Oklahoma, built in 1954, reached an incredible 1,575 feet (480 meters).

Warsaw Radio Mast

The Warsaw Radio Mast in Poland, completed in 1974, stood at a whopping 2,121 feet (646.4 meters), more than twice the height of the Chrysler Building. It was designed to broadcast the success of communist rule and could transmit as far as the United States and Australia. Unfortunately, the mast collapsed during high winds in 1991.

Burj Khalifa: A Modern Marvel

In 2010, Dubai unveiled the Burj Khalifa, a structure that reached a previously unimaginable height of 2,716 feet (828 meters). Designed as a vertical city, its Neo-Futurist style incorporates stepped columns to deflect wind.

The Burj Khalifa is more than double the height of the Empire State Building.
Its unique design minimizes the impact of wind vortices.

The Underwater Giants: Oil Platforms

Beyond terrestrial structures, the world's tallest man-made structures are actually found underwater. These are oil platforms, specifically tension leg platforms, which are anchored to the sea floor using steel tendons.

Petronius Compliant Tower

The Petronius Compliant Tower, located southeast of New Orleans, rises 2,000 feet (610 meters) from the sea floor.

URSA Tension Leg Platform

The URSA Tension Leg Platform seized the title with a total height of 4,285 feet (1,306 meters), taller than the Burj Khalifa with the Empire State Building balanced on top.

Magnolia ETLP

The Magnolia ETLP extends more than 4,700 feet (1,400 meters) up from the sea floor and was declared the World’s Tallest Structure.

Bigfoot

Bigfoot is the latest Platform to extend even further to over five thousand feet, or nearly one thousand six hundred meters.

The Future: Reaching for the Stars

Looking ahead, the Clouds Architecture Office has proposed the Analemma Tower, a structure designed to be suspended from an orbiting asteroid 50,000 kilometers above ground. This floating city would represent the ultimate ambition in human construction.

While the race to build taller structures continues, it's clear that human ingenuity knows no bounds. From the ancient pyramids to futuristic concepts, our quest to reach new heights will continue to shape the world around us.