San Jose's Electric Light Tower grew from an idea by J.J. Owens, editor of the San Jose Mercury, who on May 13, 1881, urged a single high and immense source of arc light that would make night as day in the downtown area. Backed enthusiastically by local citizens, construction began that August, and on December 13, 1881, the 237-foot tower was lighted. Spanning the intersection of Santa Clara and Market Streets, it made a spectacular impression and, with 24,000 candlepower from six arc lights, was the brightest light tower in the world. At the time it ranked among the 50 tallest structures in the world, represented progress to San Jose because electricity was still a relatively new source of power, and became an internationally known landmark that inspired the designer of the Eiffel Tower built eight years later. After damage in a windstorm in February 1915, the tower completely collapsed into the street at 11:55 a.m. on December 3 that year, telescoping into itself without injuring anyone.
