Timeline of World's Highest Observation Decks
This is a timeline of the development of world's highest observation decks since inauguration of the Eiffel Tower in 1889.
| Held record | Name and Location | Constructed | Height of highest observation deck | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | ||||
| 1889 | 1931 | Eiffel Tower, Paris, France | 1889 | 275 m (902 ft) | Two further observation decks 57 & 115 m. |
| 1931 | 1973 | Empire State Building, New York City, USA | 1931 | 369 m (1,211 ft) | A second observation deck is located on the 86th floor at 320 metres above ground. |
| 1973 | 1974 | World Trade Center, New York City, USA (article) | 1973 | 399.4 m (1,310 ft) | Indoor observatory on the 107th floor of South Tower opened on April 4, 1973. Destroyed during the September 11 attacks. |
| 1974 | 1975 | Sears Tower (since renamed Willis Tower), Chicago, USA | 1974 | 412.4 m (1,353 ft) | 103rd floor observation deck opened on June 22, 1974 |
| 1975 | 1976 | World Trade Center, New York City, USA (article) | 1973 | 419.7 m (1,377 ft) | Outdoor observatory on rooftop of the South Tower opened on December 15, 1975. Destroyed during the September 11 attacks. |
| 1976 | 2008 | CN Tower, Toronto, Canada | 1976 | 446.5 m (1,465 ft) | Two further observation decks 342 and 346 metres above ground. |
| 2008 | 2011 | Shanghai World Financial Centre, Shanghai, People's Republic of China | 2008 | 474 m (1,555 ft) | Other observation decks are at 423 m (1,388 ft) and 439 m (1,440 ft). |
| 2011 | Canton Tower, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China | 2011 | 488 m (1,601 ft) | The outdoor rooftop observation deck opened in December 2011. There are also several other indoor observation decks in the tower, the highest at 433.2 m (1,421 ft). | |
- Note: Higher observation decks have existed on mountain peaks or cliffs, rather than on tall structures. For example, the Royal Gorge Bridge in Cañon City, Colorado, USA, was constructed in 1929 spanning the Royal Gorge at a height of 321 m (1,053 ft) above the Arkansas River. See also List of tallest buildings and structures in the world#World's highest observation deck
Read more about this topic: Observation Deck
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