Facts about the CN Tower always include the claim that the tower is the tallest in the world, and it is indeed the tallest free-standing tower in the world (there’s always a debate over definitions of tower types), which on its own is pretty impressive. It’s trumped only by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Canada’s National Tower stands 553.33 meters, or 1815 feet. It lacks consistency though in floors from the ground to the top and is therefore not considered an actual building by any architectural authorities. This fact does not make it any less arresting.

Built in 1976, the CN Tower sits immediate to Toronto’s Roger’s Center and can be spotted from Lake Ontario more than 29 miles away. It’s both a tourist hot spot and a working communications tower housing the Sky Pod, main observation deck, gift shop, Edge Walk, and the revolving 360 Restaurant. The main observation deck is just below the higher Sky Pod deck and spans seven stories, not all which are open for viewing. Most recently it has become home to Edgewalk, a daring 360 walk around the perimeter of the observation tower.

CN Tower history began in 1973 when building first got underway. About three years and 63 million dollars later, the tower was complete, opening to the public on June 26, 1976. The tower snagged the title for tallest building in the world while it was still being built in 1975. It maintained that distinction for 31 years until Burj Dubai was built in 2007. Another impressive note in CN Tower history is in 1995 the American Society of Civil Engineers named it one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World.

Toronto Map

Today all the facts about the CN Tower come together to describe a remarkable landmark in one of Canada’s greatest cities. It defies imagination for some, impresses with its views, and affords, hands down, the best views in all of Toronto—especially at night, when the entire landscape is lit up and twinkling with the city lights.