Precisely what constitutes the world ’s tallest edifice is debatable , with parameter raised over whether or not uninhabitable structures ( like telecommunications towers ) condition for inclusion , and whether the extra height gained by the addition of radio set masts and ranging pole should be take away into explanation . But using a square list of habitable structures measure from terra firma to roof as a yard measure , the back catalog of former World ’s Tallest Building title - holders really includes some quite surprising entries .
1. THE PYRAMID OF GIZA // EGYPT
When the Great Pyramid at Giza was completed after 20 year of grammatical construction in around 2500 BCE , it stand an impose 480 foot tall — althougherosion has knocked a full 25 foundation from that totalso that it stands 455 feet today . Precisely what held the form of address before then is debatable , although contenders include several more of Egypt ’s pyramids , the 28 - foot Tower of Jericho complete around 10,000 years ago , andGöbekli Tepe , a mysterious site in Southern Turkey that dates back to the tenth millennium BCE .
2. LINCOLN CATHEDRAL // UNITED KINGDOM
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When construction of the immense key spire of Lincoln Cathedral in England was nail in 1311 , it is believe to have stood an impressive 525 foundation , easy surpassing the Great Pyramid ’s elevation by more than 40 feet and break its running as the world ’s tallest building after a stupefying 3800 years . Sadly , all three of Lincoln ’s spires have been lose : the two small spire were take away in 1807 , almost a 100 after concern about their safety were raised by the designer James Gibbs , while the marvellous primal tower was put down by a storm in 1548 . Its collapse also stand for that Lincoln Cathedral ’s rubric was temporarily handed over to …
3. ST. MARY’S CHURCH // GERMANY
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The 495 - fundament - tallMarienkircheror St. Mary ’s Church in the town of Stralsund in northeast Germany was make out sometime in the 13th 100 . It might have unceremoniously snatch the title from Lincoln Cathedral after the tragedy of 1548 , but theMarienkircherhas hadits own share of uncollectible luckthroughout its prospicient chronicle : its bell pillar collapsed in 1382 , and its fundamental steeple blew down in a tempest in 1478 and had to be replace . The substitution , however , was struck by lightning and burn to the ground in 1647 — handing the title of reality ’s tallest building over to …
4. STRASBOURG CATHEDRAL // FRANCE
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After a run of regretful luck for ecclesiastical edifice , Strasbourg Cathedral — at 466 feet grandiloquent — managed to declare on to the rubric of populace ’s tallest building for the next 227 years ( although some in the nineteenth century thought it was short than the Great Pyramid ) . But in the former 19th century , improvements in building techniques and architectural engineering led to a flurry of tall buildings completed all across Europe .
In 1874 , a rebuilt St. Nicholas ’s Church in Hamburg was fill out after the premature building burned down 30 years earlier ; standing 482 feet improbable , it took the title from Strasbourg ( but went on to beall but destroyedduring the Second World War and is now in ruining ) . In 1876 , a cast iron steeple was added to Rouen Cathedral in France , which steal the title from Hamburg . Then in 1880,work was finally completed — after a 407 - year suspension — on Cologne Cathedral in Germany : construction had originally begun in 1248 , but was stop in 1473 . The ruined building stood 515 feet tall , enough to steal the title from Rouen and revert it to Germany . But just like its herald , Cologne Cathedral only obligate the claim for the next four age .
5. WASHINGTON MONUMENT // UNITED STATES
On its mop up in 1884
, the 555 - foot Washington Monument became the reality ’s tall entirely stone - built social structure , the improbable obelisk anywhere in the world , and the first know structure in North America to hold the claim of world ’s tallest building . Despite that impressive record , however , Europe reclaimed the phonograph recording just five days later with …
6. THE EIFFEL TOWER // FRANCE
The 986 - animal foot Eiffel Tower was the centrepiece of the 1889 World ’s Fair . Although its intriguer and namesake Gustave Eiffel had a permit allowing it to stand for a total of 20 years , it was originally destine to be break up when the fair was over . gratefully , aside from its popularity , part of the reason the Tower still survives is that it show an excellent telegraph sender , and evenproved useful in tap German radio signalsduring the First Battle of Marne in 1914 .
On its mop up on March 31 , 1889 , the 984 - foot Eiffel Tower instantly became the world ’s tallest building ( although , amazingly , it shrinks by up to 6 inchesduring cold weather ) . It prevail the record for the next 41 years , until finally it was beaten by …
7. THE CHRYSLER BUILDING // NEW YORK
When it was opened on May 27 , 1930 , New York City ’s Chrysler Building broke the Eiffel Tower ’s record by a full 60 ft — it stands an impressive 1046 feet tall , making it the first building in account to break the 1000 - foot scrape ( thanks largely to a 185 - foot spire fabricate in secret to prevent any competition from beating it ) . It rest the tallest brick - build edifice in the humans ( although it does have a steel material body ) , despite accommodate the record as the existence ’s tallest for just 11 months : the Empire State Building was completed on April 11 , 1931 .
