A Brief History of the World's Tallest Buildings

The Eiffel Tower
The French don't brag about the Eiffel Tower's height (984 ft., or 300 m) but they do like to remind admirers of the structure that when it was erected in 1889, it was twice as high as the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Not only that, but it was also built in two years with a small labor force of just 300 workers, at the minimal cost of about $1.5 million. It opened in time to serve as the entrance gate for the International Exposition (or World's Fair) of 1889. It stood as the world's tallest building until 1930, when New York City's Chrysler Building edged it out, but it certainly remains one of the most efficient.

• New Classic for NY: 41 Cooper Square
• Architecture Interrupted