It really was originally intended to be a temporary exhibit for the 1889 exposition. It was a crucial testing ground for both experimental radio and TV broadcasts. Before the 1910s-1920s, it was thought by many, including public officials to be essentially useless, and its relevance as a tourist attraction was largely unknown, despite its origins as a centerpiece for the exposition.

It was also disliked by a lot of local artists and residents and, perhaps unsurprisingly, considered unsafe by a lot of people, including some who were familiar with structural engineering. Many residents were simply opposed to its height and design relative to the low-rise urban cityscape of the city and the resulting aesthetic impacts. This may have been an early example of NIMBYism on the basis of "context" and/or "character" commonly used to oppose re-development of existing populated areas in North America today.

It was well ahead of public mindset in terms of height, structural design and its use of electrically powered elevators, often referred to as "lifts" in Europe.

Last edited by tdotwriter (May 12, 2025 9:10 pm)