Eiffel Tower with cowboy hat

This is the Eiffel Tower replica in Paris, Texas, one of the better roadside landmarks in the state.

It sits at 2025 S. Collegiate Drive, near the Love Civic Center. The tower was built in 1993 by local welders and stands about 65 feet tall. It is obviously much smaller than the real Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, but Texas gave it something France never had: a bright red cowboy hat on top.

The cowboy hat was added later, around 1998, and that is what made the tower famous. Without the hat, it would just be a fun little replica. With the hat, it becomes very Paris, Texas. It is part joke, part civic pride, and part “of course Texas did that.”

It is free to visit and open 24 hours a day. At night, the tower lights up, often in colors tied to holidays or the Texas flag.

The location also fits into the bigger story of Paris, Texas. This is the same town that was devastated by the 1916 fire, then rebuilt with a lot of character. So the tower is not exactly historic in the old sense, but it has become one of those modern landmarks people remember. It is quirky, easy to visit, and it gives the town a symbol that is hard to forget.