KPXM Tower facts for kids

The KPXM Tower is the tallest structure in Minnesota. It is a very tall radio mast, held up by strong wires called guy wires, and it reaches an amazing height of 1505 feet (about 458.72 meters)!

This tower used to send out the signal for a TV station called KPXM-TV. That station is part of the Ion Television network and serves the area around St. Cloud, Minnesota. You can find the tower located about halfway between St. Cloud and the big cities of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, close to the town of Big Lake.

Building the Tallest Tower

The KPXM Tower was finished in 1997. It is owned by a company called American Tower. When the tower was first built, the TV station it served had a different name, or "call sign," which was KXLI.

This tower became the tallest in Minnesota when it was completed. It took over the title from the KMSP Tower, which had been the tallest since 1971.

Other Tall Buildings in Minnesota

While the KPXM Tower is the tallest structure overall because it's a mast, there are also very tall buildings in Minnesota. These are different because they stand on their own without guy wires.

The tallest of these "non-guyed" structures are in Minneapolis. They include the IDS Tower, which is about 792 feet (241.4 meters) tall, or even 910 feet (277.3 meters) if you count its antennas on the roof! Another very tall building is the Capella Tower, standing at 776 feet (236.5 meters).