Not everything is bigger in Texas. Case in point: our Eiffel Tower in our Paris. But that didn’t stop me from breaking out my beret and heading to the Northeast Texas “City of Love” to see our rendition of France’s most famous landmark.
The French built theirs of iron in 1889 for the world’s fair. Texans—never ones to sit quietly while another Paris hogs the spotlight—answered in 1993 with a scaled-down steel replica that has way more Texas swagger.
I rolled into town craving a crêpe and a glass of wine, but those had to wait. First stop was my petit pilgrimage to the petite tower. I found it standing proudly on the south side of town, wedged between the civic center and the impressive Red River Valley Veterans Memorial.
I wasn’t alone. Dozens of folks were lined up for their chance at the ultimate French-Texan selfie.
Of course, the first thing anyone notices is the bright red cowboy hat perched on top. It wasn’t there originally. Locals say that after rival Paris, Tennessee, built a tower a smidge taller, Texans did what Texans do—we added a hat and claimed victory.
With the topper, our tower clocks in at 65 feet, proudly earning the title of second-tallest Eiffel Tower in a city named Paris. (The French original stands about 16 times that height at more than 1,000 feet, so first place wasn’t exactly in reach.)
Up close, it looks a bit like a radio antenna’s artsy cousin who studied abroad, but the vibe is pure Parisian picnic. Families sprawled in the grass, kids craned their necks to the top, and couples kissed beneath its steel beams as if the Seine were flowing nearby.
So if you find yourself in Northeast Texas, make the detour. And remember—when in Paris (Texas), the dress code is cowboy casual.
