Observation Deck - Timeline of World's Highest Observation Decks

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 CaƱon 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

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