Does size matter?

"Imitate nothing and no one. A lion that copies a lion becomes a monkey."

Victor Hugo

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When it debuted in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was the world’s tallest building. Hordes of visitors flooded Paris to gawk and marvel at the 1000-foot "Iron Lady." By most measures, France’s latest achievement in engineering was an enormous success.

But not everyone was so enthusiastic.

"Eiffel Tower", 1889, photograph, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
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Across the channel, the British were sulking. Jealous that their neighbors were enjoying so much favorable publicity, they cooked up a scheme to outdo the French. Their plan: grab the world’s attention by constructing a bigger and better tower on Queen Victoria’s soil.

The British put out a call to architects everywhere, requesting proposals for buildings that were at least 200 feet taller than France’s newest tourist attraction. Sir Edward Watkin, a member of Parliament and chief organizer of the project, famously proclaimed: "Anything Paris can do, London can do bigger!"

Designs flew in, many mimicking the Eiffel Tower’s distinctive shape and use of pre-fabricated metal. From the 68 submissions, the British selected a winner and soon broke ground in London’s Wembley Park.

Stewart, McLaren and Dunn, competition-winning "Design No. 37", from the Descriptive Illustrated Catalogue of the 68 Competitive Designs for the Great Tower for London, 1890, London.
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But work shut down after only 150 feet of construction due to financing issues. The project, which reportedly became known as "Watkin’s Folly" and "the London Stump," was never completed.

Adding insult to injury, affection for the Eiffel Tower only increased over time. Imitations sprung up from Las Vegas to Tokyo. Intended as homages, all were shorter than the record-breaking original.