The CN Tower turns 50 today. Here is a look back over the decades.
Construction on the CN Tower began on February 6, 1973, and was opened to the public on June 26, 1976.
Published:
Image 0 of 52
Getting ready for world's tallest structure. From this hole in the ground; 250 feet wide and 30 feet below the level of Lake Ontario; will rise the world's tallest self-supporting structure. Located just south of Front St. and east of John St. in downtown Toronto; the 1;805-foot CN Tower will be the centrepiece of the planned $1 billion Metro Centre. (Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Construction of the base of the CN Tower, July 24, 1973. (CN Tower)
The last concrete is poured atop the 1,464-foot level of the $21 million CN Tower, February 22, 1974. (Via Getty Images)
Beginnings of the main pod in 1974. (CN Tower)
Canadian National Tower under construction in Toronto, circa 1975. (Harold M. Lambert/Getty Images)
Construction on the CN Tower in Toronto, January 9, 1975. (CP PHOTO/
Multiple images of a Sikorsky CH-54 hauling pieces of a crane during the construction of the Canadian National Tower in Toronto, March 8, 1975.
Hovering like a giant bee, a huge Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter prepares to raise a construction crane tower from atop the CN (Canadian National) Tower in Toronto, March 8, 1975. (CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody)
A huge Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter prepares to raise a construction crane tower from atop the CN (Canadian National) Tower in Toronto, March 8, 1975. (CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody)
A huge Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter prepares to raise a construction crane tower from atop the CN (Canadian National) Tower in Toronto, March 8, 1975. (CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody)
The 10-foot section of antenna that made the CN Tower the tallest self-supporting structure in the world was added in March 31, 1975, with foreman Paul Mitchell guiding it. (Bob Olsen/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Inside the CN Tower shaft in 1975. (CN Tower)
CN Tower construction crews in 1975. (CN Tower)
Stuntman Dar Robinson leaps well out from CN Tower to avoid obstacles on way down; then free falls before pulling parachute ripcord, Sept. 21, 1979. (Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
The Queen Mother beams as she prepares to sign the guest book at the CN Tower in Toronto July 15, 1985. (CP PHOTO/Mike Blake)
Toronto's CN Tower is seen through fog Wednesday, March 16, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Fireworks explode off the CN Tower in Toronto to ring in the new millennium on Saturday Jan. 1, 2000. (CP PHOTO/Frank Gunn)
The CN Tower and Skydome are seen on Lake Ontario in Toronto on Monday, August 26, 2002. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Frayer
Westbound lanes, left, of the Gardiner Expressway remained closed as commuters make their way downtown in Toronto, Tuesday, March 6, 2007.
(CP PHOTO/Aaron Harris) CANADA
The CN Tower and the Rogers centre get blanketed in snow Saturday March 8, 2008, in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Dell
The CN Tower, the world's tallest freestanding structure, is framed by construction cranes in Toronto on Tuesday Jan. 30, 2007. (CP PHOTO/Frank Gunn)
Lightning strikes the CN Tower Sunday August 9, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Jim Bradford
Canadian Press reporter Alexandra Posadzki leans 1,168ft over Toronto's downtown while participating in a media preview of the EdgeWalk attraction on the CN Tower Wednesday, July 27, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
The CN Tower looms over the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers as the Rogers Centre's roof is open for the first time in the 2011 MLB baseball season in Toronto Saturday, May 7, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Lightning hits the CN Tower behind the deserted exhibitions grounds in Toronto on Wednesday August 24, 2011. The annual fair was closed due to severe weather. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
A construction crane stand in front of the CN tower in downtown Toronto on Saturday, February 4, 2012. The condo explosion is changing the shape and culture of Canada's cities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Pawel Dwulit
Construction cranes line the hazy Toronto skyline on Monday, August 27, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michelle Siu
A man holds a Canadian flag over the CN Tower, made to look like it is dripping with oil, outside the National Energy Board public hearings on the Enbridge Line 9 oil pipeline, in Toronto, Friday October 18, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
An Airbus Helicopters AS355 flies past the CN Tower in Toronto on Tuesday February 4, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Frank Gunn
People make their way towards the CN Tower and Rogers Centre for the opening ceremony in the Pan Am Games in Toronto, Friday, July 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Fireworks are set off from the CN Tower at the beginning of the Opening Ceremonies for the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto on Friday, July 10, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power
Fireworks illuminate the CN tower during Pan Am Toronto 2015 opening ceremony in Toronto on Friday July, 10 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
The sun sets over the CN Tower and Rogers Centre during the closing ceremonies of the Pan Am Games in Toronto, July 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Flags of the participating countries fly in the athletes' village as the CN Tower stands in the background at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto on Thursday, July 9, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Fireworks explode off the CN Tower in downtown Toronto, during the opening ceremonies for the Pan Am Games, Friday, July 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Fog rolls in front of the CN Tower and skyline in Toronto, Friday May 13, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
The super perigee full moon sets behind the CN tower in Toronto on Monday, November 14, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
A lightning bolt strikes the CN Tower during an electrical storm in Toronto, Thursday July 14, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
The CN Tower can be seen behind condo's in Toronto's Liberty Village community in Toronto, Ontario on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
The CN Tower can be seen in the Toronto skyline in Toronto, Ontario on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
The moon rises over the CN Tower in Toronto, Ont., on Saturday December 2, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
Workers examine a hole in top of the Rogers Centre as the area around the CN Tower is closed off due to reports of falling ice in Toronto on Monday, April 16, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Fog envelops the CN Tower as it is closed off due to reports of falling ice in Toronto on Monday, April 16, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Sandi Morris of the US competes her way to a bronze medal while jumping with the CN Tower in the background in pole vault during the NACAC Championships in Toronto, Saturday August 11, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
A man walks by the Rogers Centre as reports of falling ice from the CN Tower sparked a closure of parts of the area on Toronto on Monday, April 16, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
The Canadian Snowbirds circle the CN Tower as part of Operation Inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Sunday, May 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The Canadian Snowbirds circle the CN Tower as part of Operation Inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Sunday, May 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
People are framed around the CN tower as they exercise in Toronto on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The August Super Blue Moon sets behind the CN tower in Toronto on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
The CN Tower is shown in the background of rides at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White
Fans of Drake climb a concrete structure as they gather near the CN Tower for a video projection promoting the upcoming album "ICEMAN" in Toronto on Friday, May 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
Diverse crowds of soccer fans walk through the city streets after attending a FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, June 12, 2026. (Anatoliy Cherkasov/Informa Plus Photo Agency/LightRocket via Getty Images)
