List of tallest demolished freestanding structures explained

This is a list of tallest demolished freestanding structures in the world. To be freestanding a structure must not be supported by guy wires, the sea or other types of support. It therefore does not include guyed masts, partially guyed towers and drilling platforms but does include towers, skyscrapers (pinnacle height) and chimneys.[1]

Demolished freestanding structures 198 m/650 ft or taller

Structures with the same height are ordered by demolition date

NamePinnacle height
(metres / feet)
Year builtYear removedType of structureMain useCountryCityRemarksRecording of event
1 World Trade Center526.7 m1,728 ft19732001SkyscraperOffice, observationNew York CityDestroyed on September 11, 2001. Tallest freestanding structure that no longer exists. Tallest building in the world 1972–1974.
2 World Trade Center415.3 m1,362 ft19732001SkyscraperOffice, observationNew York CityDestroyed on September 11, 2001.Video on YouTube
Chimney of Andorra Power Station343 m1,125 ft19812023ChimneyPower stationAndorra (Teruel)Demolished on 16 February 2023 by explosives. Tallest freestanding structure ever demolished in a controlled manner.Video on YouTube
Chimney of Power Station Westerholt337 m1,106 ft19812006ChimneyPower stationGelsenkirchen, North Rhine-WestphaliaDemolished on 3 December 2006 by explosives.Video on YouTube
Atlanta Turner Broadcasting Tower314.3 m1,031 ft19672010Lattice towerUHF/VHF-transmissionAtlanta, GeorgiaDismantled in 2010. Tallest lattice tower to be demolished.
Chimney of Harllee Branch Power Plant307 m1,007 ft19782016ChimneyPower stationMilledgeville, GeorgiaDemolished on October 15, 2016. Tallest multi-flue windscreen chimney ever demolished.[2]
Chimney of Widows Creek Fossil Plant305 m1,001 ft19802020ChimneyPower stationStevenson, AlabamaDemolished on December 3, 2020.
Chimney of Marl-Chemiepark Power Station300 m984 ft197?1995ChimneyPower stationMarl, North Rhine-WestphaliaDemolished in 1995.
Chimney #1 of Boxberg Power Station300 m984 ft19792000ChimneyPower stationBoxberg, SaxonyDemolished in 2000.
Chimney of Lippendorf Power Station300 m984 ft19672005ChimneyPower stationLippendorf, SaxonyDemolished by explosives in 2005.
Chimney #1 of Power Plant Jänschwalde300 m984 ft19812003ChimneyPower stationJänschwaldeDemolished by explosives 2002–2007.
Chimney #2 of Power Plant Jänschwalde300 m984 ft19812005ChimneyPower stationJänschwaldeDemolished by explosives 2002–2007.
Chimney #3 of Power Plant Jänschwalde300 m984 ft19812007ChimneyPower stationJänschwaldeDemolished by explosives 2002–2007.
Chimney of Thierbach Power Station300 m984 ft1968?ChimneyPower stationEspenhain, SaxonyDemolished.
Chimney #2 of Boxberg Power Station300 m984 ft19792009ChimneyPower stationBoxberg, SaxonyDemolished in 2009.
Chimney #3 of Boxberg Power Station300 m984 ft19792012ChimneyPower stationBoxberg, SaxonyDemolished in 2009.
Chimney of Chimney of Tušimice Power Station300 m984 ft19742012ChimneyPower stationTušimiceDismantled in 2011–12.[3]
Chimney #4 of Boxberg Power Station300 m984 ft19792012ChimneyPower stationBoxberg, SaxonyDemolished in 2012.
Chimney #3 Matla Power Station Smokestack276 m906 ft19821982ChimneyPower stationKrielDemolished in 1982 after partially collapsing during construction.
Chimney of R.E. Burger Power Station260 m854 ft192016ChimneyPower stationDilles BottomDemolished on July 29, 2016[4]
Chimney of Shawville Generating Station259 m850 ft19722016ChimneyPower stationShadyside, OhioDemolished in 2016.
Chimney of Hamburg-Port 256 m840 ft?2004Chimney? Demolished in April 2004. Further damage occurred caused by miscalculation of debris trajectories from explosive demolition.
Chimneys #2 Yates Power Plant253 m830 ft1974 2017ChimneyPower stationDemolished on 21 January 2017.
Chimney #2 ASARCO El Paso Smelter252.5 m 828 ft1967 2013ChimneySmelterDemolished in April 2013.
Lafayette transmitter, Tower 1250 m820 ft19181944Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionMarcheprimeDemolished in 1944.[5]
Lafayette transmitter, Tower 2250 m820 ft19181944Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionMarcheprimeDemolished in 1944.
Lafayette transmitter, Tower 3250 m820 ft19181944Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionMarcheprimeDemolished in 1944.
Lafayette transmitter, Tower 4250 m820 ft19181944Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionMarcheprimeDemolished in 1944.
Lafayette transmitter, Tower 5250 m820 ft19181944Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionMarcheprimeDemolished in 1944.
Lafayette transmitter, Tower 6250 m820 ft1918/19201944Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionMarcheprimeDemolished in 1944.
Lafayette transmitter, Tower 7250 m820 ft19201944Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionMarcheprimeDemolished in 1944.
Lafayette transmitter, Tower 8250 m820 ft1918/19201953Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionMarcheprimeDisassembled in 1953.
250 m820 ft1978 2005Chimney?Demolished in 2005.
250 m820 ft1973 ?ChimneyPower stationDisassembled.
244 m801 ft19792016ChimneyPower stationDemolished on September 7, 2016.
243 m797 ft19251972Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionKoenigs WusterhausenCollapsed during storm on November 15, 1972. Tallest freestanding structure to collapse in a storm.
Chimney #1 Navajo Generating Station236.2 m775 ft19972020ChimneyPower stationPage, Arizona, Demolished on December 18, 2020
Chimney #2 Navajo Generating Station236.2 m775 ft19982020ChimneyPower stationPage, Arizona, Demolished on December 18, 2020(see above)
Chimney #3 Navajo Generating Station236.2 m775 ft19992020ChimneyPower stationPage, Arizona, Demolished on December 18, 2020(see above)
236 m774 ft19762013ChimneyPower stationDemolished on July 28, 2013.
Chimney of Power Station Schwandorf 235 m771 ft? 2005ChimneyPower stationDemolished in 2005.
Channel 9 TV Tower233 m764 ft19652021Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionSydneyDisassembled in August 2021.
WOR TV Tower231.65 m760 ft19491956Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionNorth Bergen, New JerseyDismantled after being struck by an aircraft in 1956.
Chimney of Castrop-Rauxel Power Station 230 m755 ft1966 2008ChimneyPower stationDemolished in 2008.
Chimneys of Heating Power Station Gera-Nord 225 m738 ft1984/1986 2010ChimneyPower stationDemolished 2008–2010.
220 m722 ft1962 2005ChimneyPower stationDemolished in 2005.
Yekaterinburg TV Tower219 m720 ft1962 2018TowerObservation TowerDemolished on March 24, 2018. Was originally intended to be 360 m (1,180 ft) tall.
217.3 m713 ft1968 2000ChimneyPower stationDemolished on November 25, 2000.
270 Park Avenue216 m708 ft19602021SkyscraperOfficeNew York CityDisassembled in 2020–21. Tallest building to ever be voluntarily removed.
Chimney of Littlebrook Power Station, Unit 'D' 215 m705 ft19812019ChimneyPower stationDemolished in December 2019.
213.5 m700 ft19602018ChimneyPower station Demolished on October 1, 2018.[6]
Chimney Power Station Moers-Meerbeck 210 m689 ft? 1990'sChimneyPower stationDemolished early 1990s.
Novosemeykino Longwave Transmission, Tower 1[7] 205 m673 ft19432010Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionNovosemeykinoDemolished in 2010,[8] selfradiating insulated against ground
Novosemeykino Longwave Transmission, Tower 2205 m673 ft19432010Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionNovosemeykinoDemolished in 2010, selfradiating insulated against ground
Novosemeykino Longwave Transmission, Tower 3205 m673 ft19432010Lattice TowerUHF/VHF-transmissionNovosemeykinoDemolished in 2010, selfradiating insulated against ground
Chimney Power Station Franken II 202 m663 ft1964 2001ChimneyPower stationDemolished in 2001.
Chimney of Považská Bystrica Old Power Station 201 m659 ft? 2016ChimneyPower stationDemolished in 2016.[9]
Chimney Ludwigshafen 200 m656 ft?2002Chimney? Demolished in November 2002.
Chimney Power Station Breitungen 200 m656 ft1986 2005ChimneyPower stationDemolished in 2005.
Chimney of Schwedt PCK-refinery 200 m656 ft?2003ChimneyRefineryDemolished in 2003.
200 m656 ft19672008ChimneyPower stationDemolished in 2008.
Manušice Chimney 200 m656 ft??Chimney?Demolished ?
Chimney of Skalice u České Lípy 200 m656 ft? ?Chimney?Demolished ?
199.5 m 654 ft19682020ChimneyPower stationDemolished in February 2020.
Chimney of Ohio Edison Toronto Power Plant[10] 198 m650 ft19 2008ChimneyPower stationDemolition on November 1, 2008.
Port Kembla Copper Stack 198 m650 ft1965 2014ChimneySmelterDemolished on February 20, 2014.
Chimney #1 of Nanticoke Generating Station Units 1–4 198 m650 ft19722018ChimneyPower stationDemolished on February 28, 2018.
Chimney #2 of Nanticoke Generating Station Units 5–8 198 m650 ft19722018ChimneyPower stationDemolished on February 28, 2018.(see above)
198 m650 ft19702018ChimneyPower stationDemolished in March 2018.
Chimney of St. Johns River Power Park[11] 198 m650 ft19882019ChimneyPower stationDemolished on July 23, 2019.[12]
Chimney of Consumers Energy B.C. Cobb Plant 198 m650 ft? 2020ChimneyPower stationDisassembled in 2019-20.[13]
198 m650 ft1966 2020ChimneyPower stationDemolition in 2020.
Chimney of Thunder Bay Generating Station198 m650 ft19632021ChimneyPower stationDemolished on September 9, 2021.[14]

Timeline of world's tallest demolished freestanding structures

NameHeight (metres / feet)Held recordStructural typeCountryCityclass=unsortable Notes
Meidum pyramid92 m300 ft2610 BC–1303 AD (3913 years)MausoleumMeidumCollapsed during construction, now 65m
Lighthouse of Alexandria103 to 118 m338 to 387 ft1303–1500 (197 years)LighthouseDamaged by earthquakes in 956, 1303 and 1323. The most destructive of which is indicated to be the 1303 quake.
Malmesbury Abbey131 m431 ft1500–1549 (49 years)ChurchSpire collapsed around 1500.
Lincoln Cathedral159.7 m524 ft1549–1921 (372 years)ChurchLincolnSpire collapsed in 1549.
New Brighton Tower172.8 m567 ft1921–1936 (15 years)Lattice TowerLiverpoolDismantled from 1919 to 1921.
US Naval Radio Station Pearl Harbor, 3 identical towers[15] 183 m600 ft1936–1938 (2 years)Lattice TowerHonolulu Dismantled in 1936.
US Naval Radio Station Cayey, 3 identical towers[16] 189 m620 ft1938–1944 (6 years)Lattice TowerCayey, Puerto RicoDemolished in 1938.
Lafayette transmitter, 8 identical towers250 m820 ft1944–1982 (38 years)Lattice TowerMarcheprimeTowers 1 through to 7 demolished in 1944, tower 8 demolished in 1953.
Chimney #3 Matla Power Station Smokestack276 m906 ft1982–1995 (13 years)ChimneyKrielDemolished in 1982 after partially collapsing during construction.
Chimney of Marl-Chemiepark Power Station300 m984 ft1995–2001 (6 years)ChimneyMarlDemolished in 1995.
2 World Trade Center415.3 m1,362 ft1973–2001 (28 years)SkyscraperNew York CityDestroyed on September 11, 2001.
1 World Trade Center526.7 m1,728 ft1973–2001 (28 years)SkyscraperNew York CityDestroyed on September 11, 2001. Tallest freestanding structure that no longer exists.

See also

Notes and References

  1. See Tallest freestanding structures by skyscraperpage.com
  2. Web site: Chimneys.
  3. Web site: Tušimice power plant – demolition of 300 m chimney – en Libre spol. S r.o. .
  4. Web site: Smoke Stack at R.E. Burger Plant in Dilles Bottom Comes Down.
  5. Web site: Lafayette transmitter, Marcheprime | 1225903 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220307123930/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1225903/lafayette-transmitter-marcheprime-france . dead . March 7, 2022 . Emporis . 2021-01-26.
  6. Web site: Scratch one smokestack from the banks of the Mississippi | NewsCut | Minnesota Public Radio News . Blogs.mprnews.org . 2018-10-01 . 2021-01-26.
  7. Web site: Novosemeykino Longwave Transmission Towers, Novosemeykino . SkyscraperPage.com . 2021-01-26.
  8. Web site: Nicolas Janberg, Chief Editor . Novosemeykino Transmission Towers (Novosemeykino) . Structurae . 2021-01-26.
  9. Web site: Komín v strojárňach zmizne, patrí k najvyšším stavbám. Petit Press . a.s.. sme.sk.
  10. Web site: FirstEnergy Toronto Power Plant Demolition & Remediation . Independence Demolition . 2021-01-26.
  11. Web site: St. Johns River Power Park | Electric Facilities| Electric Generation | About . JEA . 2021-01-26.
  12. Web site: JEA St. John's River Power Park Hung Boiler Units and Chimney - Controlled Demolition, Inc. . YouTube . 2021-01-26.
  13. Web site: What was that boom? Coal plant in Muskegon has been demolished . wzzm13.com . 11 January 2020. 2021-01-26.
  14. Web site: Budget Demolition - Thunder Bay Generating Station - 650 Foot Stack Blast - Sept 09, 2021 . YouTube . 2022-05-02.
  15. Web site: US Naval Radio Station Pearl Harbor - NPM . Navy-radio.com . 2021-01-26.
  16. Web site: The Impact on Cayey, Puerto Rico of the Spanish American War: The Evolution of a Place Called Henry Barracks . 2021-01-26.