Canada’s CN Tower: Used to Be Taller Than Other Tall Things

“I was always tall. It was just the other free-standing structures that got taller.” — CN Tower as Gloria Swanson

Driving through downtown Toronto, I casually gestured to the skyline and proudly announced to the American occupants of the vehicle that they were in the presence of the world’s tallest building.

Which, you know, eye-rolling, and one suspicious “wait, isn’t there something in Dubai that’s taller than anything else?”

And I got extremely defensive and Canadian and I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT WE HAVE THE LARGEST THING OF ANY OF THE THINGS, and then secretly Googled, and it’s a total lie.

Things That Were True About the Tower When it Was New:

– It was not technically ever a building, as buildings are required to have floors continuously from the ground, not just a long slope-y part punctuated by a bulb-y thing.
 — It was the world’s tallest free-standing structure.

Things That Can Now be Said About the Tower:

– It has the world’s highest metal staircase.
 — It has the world’s highest wine cellar.
 — There have been zero fire fatalities.
 — It is the world’s fifth tallest free-standing structure.
 — It is the world’s third tallest free-standing structure on land.
 — It is the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere.
 — During ice storms, winds can toss huge chunks of ice from its surface, crushing taxis parked several blocks away.