CN Tower
The CN Tower (French: Tour CN) is a 553.3 m-high (1,815.3 ft) concrete communications and observation tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[3][8] Completed in 1976, it is located in downtown Toronto, built on the former Railway Lands. Its name "CN" referred to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower. Following the railway's decision to divest non-core freight railway assets prior to the company's privatization in 1995, it transferred the tower to the Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation responsible for the government's real estate portfolio.
This article is about the tower in Toronto. For the tower in Edmonton, see CN Tower (Edmonton).CN Tower
Canadian National Tower, Canada's National Tower
Completed
Mixed use:
Observation, telecommunications, attraction, restaurant
2 April 1975
1976
26 June 1976
553.3 m (1,815 ft)
96.1 m (315 ft)
457.2 m (1,500 ft)
446.5 m (1,464.9 ft)
8 (7 in the main pod, 1 in the sky pod)
9[5]
WZMH Architects:
John Andrews, Webb Zerafa, Menkes Housden[5]
The CN Tower held the record for the world's tallest free-standing structure for 32 years, from 1975 until 2007, when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa, and was the world's tallest tower until 2009 when it was surpassed by the Canton Tower.[9][10][11] It is currently the tenth-tallest free-standing structure in the world and remains the tallest free-standing structure on land in the Western Hemisphere. In 1995, the CN Tower was declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It also belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers.[5][12][13]
It is a signature icon of Toronto's skyline[14][15] and attracts more than two million international visitors annually.[5][16] It houses several observation decks, a revolving restaurant at some 350 metres (1,150 ft), and an entertainment complex.[17]
Constructing the base, July 1973
Brackets being raised, August 1974
Helicopter lifting part of antenna, March 1975
Main pod construction, April 1975
Nearing completion, December 1975
Two months after opening, August 1976
Inside 360 Restaurant
Main Observation Level after renovation in 2018
Cross-section of Main Pod
Skypod
Terrace Level glass floor
View through glass floor
Gift shop in 2023
Ground view looking up at the CN Tower.
The CN Tower has been featured in numerous films, television shows, music recording covers, and video games. The tower also has its own official mascot, which resembles the tower itself.[68]