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Built:
1891- 1894
Cost: £42,000
Type: Tower
Maximum height: 518 feet 9 inches / 158 meters
Location: Hey Street
City: Blackpool
State: England
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lackpool is widely considered the epitome of the classical seaside resort. In this establishment we see glimpses of Coney Island in New York, Navy Pier in Chicago, Atlantic City in New Jersey, and the pre-1900 Galveston Island in Texas. The most visible part of the Blackpool experience is the tower. It was conceived as an answer to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and in its sheltering arms a number of amusement attractions sprang up so it could continue to make money in bad weather. The tower was intended to copy Paris' famous landmark, and was even supposed to originally be called "Blackpool Eiffel Tower." Though it's not as tall as the Eiffel Tower, it appears more sturdy. That's because it is subject to the battering of storms that roll in off the sea. There is a time capsule in the cornerstone of the Blackpool Tower. It contains a record with the voice of the man who laid the cornerstone along with newspapers and other period items. There used to be a very small zoo which included a lion. There is still a ballroom in the tower. The tower was built on the same site as an aquarium. The tanks were built into the tower's design. Like the CN Tower in Toronto, the Blackpool Tower has a "walk of faith." Parts of the floor are made from clear material that you can walk over while looking down.
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