Ford tower

The Fordturm was a 112-metre steel lattice tower in Cologne-Deutz, standing at the north-eastern edge of the Rheinpark near Auenweg. Its triangular frame supported a 12-metre revolving globe at the top, marked with the word Ford in five-metre illuminated letters. Visitors had to climb more than 400 steps to reach the summit. Built in 1950 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford-Werke GmbH, the tower was renovated for the 1957 Bundesgartenschau before being demolished in 1963. Its removal was partly driven by the KHD group, which wanted to eliminate a rival’s landmark nearby. Today the site lies along the riverbank, where the tower once blocked the path of the new Zoobrücke. The open space now forms part of the park’s approach, offering views across the Rhine toward the city centre.