Blackpool Tower

Blackpool Tower, tourist attraction and regional landmark in the seaside resort town of Blackpool, Lancashire, England, U.K. Blackpool Tower, rising to a height of 518 feet (158 m), was built in the late 19th century in steel and cast iron on the model of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

A company to build the tower was formed in 1890, headed by a former mayor, John Bickerstaffe, and the foundation stone was laid in 1891. The tower, which opened in 1894, had the great advantage of providing vacationers with something to do when it rained, and it was an immediate hit, with thousands of visitors paying to ride elevators to the viewing platform at the top of the tower. A ballroom, initially called the Tower Pavilion and now the Tower Ballroom, opened also in 1894 at the base of the tower, and a circus was tucked between its legs. An aquarium and a zoo were also part of the attraction.

The tower now boasts a glass viewing platform that commands views of the surrounding countryside, as far away as the Isle of Man on a clear day. Tea dances are still held in the Edwardian ballroom, with its ornate murals and chandeliers, where the mighty Wurlitzer organ rises majestically from the depths (Reginald Dixon played it for 40 years, until 1970), and the circus continues to operate but has not had animal acts since 1990. The zoo and aquarium are no longer part of the complex, having been replaced by other attractions, including a restaurant and a theme park.