3. For four decades it was the world's tallest structure. At 986 feet, the Eiffel Tower was nearly double the height of the world's previous tallest structure?the 555-foot Washington Monument?when it opened in 1889. It would not be surpassed until the completion of the 1,046-foot Chrysler Building in New York in 1930.

The Chrysler Building in New York City was the first structure to officially surpass the Eiffel Tower in height, claiming the title of the world's tallest man-made structure in 1930. For 41 years (1889–1930), the Eiffel Tower stood as the undisputed champion at roughly 300 meters (984 feet). The Chrysler Building reached a height of 319 meters (1,046 feet) thanks to the secret addition of its iconic steel spire. However, the Eiffel Tower "reclaimed" its height advantage over the Chrysler Building in 1957 following the addition of a broadcasting antenna, which brought its total tip height to 330 meters (1,083 feet). Today, while it is far from the tallest in the world, the Eiffel Tower remains the second-tallest free-standing structure in France, only recently surpassed in the 21st century by the Millau Viaduct's structural pylons.