Teen Breaks Record With 17-Foot Toothpick Eiffel Tower

Eric Klabel spent months hunched over thousands of toothpicks, gluing them together one by one to chase a dream that literally reached new heights.

The Naperville teen built a stunning 17-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower entirely from toothpicks and glue, earning himself a Guinness World Record for the tallest toothpick sculpture ever created. At 17.32 feet tall, his creation towers over most rooms and represents countless hours of dedication.

This wasn't Eric's first record either. In 2020, he held the title for the tallest popsicle stick structure, and that success sparked his desire for a bigger challenge.

"I wanted to break this record mainly because of how much fun I had breaking the record for the tallest popsicle stick structure when I was younger," Eric explained. He chose toothpicks specifically because they're smaller and less sturdy than popsicle sticks, making the project significantly harder.

The engineering process required serious planning. Eric created long chains by gluing toothpicks together end to end, with the bottom four legs each measuring 8 feet long. He built the tower in sections inside his house, then assembled the final structure outside for a public viewing event in his hometown.

The physical toll surprised him. "My back hurt so much," he admitted, laughing about the hours spent hunched over his workspace. But the discomfort never dimmed his enthusiasm for the project.

His family pitched in during moments that required extra hands, making the achievement a team effort even though Eric led the design and did most of the construction himself.

Why This Inspires

Eric's reaction to potentially losing his record shows maturity beyond his years. "If someone takes their time to actually break this record and takes the time to glue all of those toothpicks together, kudos to them," he said with genuine respect.

He's not focused on defending his title. Instead, he hopes his achievement motivates other students to explore STEM careers and take on ambitious projects of their own.

The high school student admitted the process was "lowkey, just a fun experience," despite the backaches and tedious work. Building something "super super tall and super super strong" made every moment worthwhile.

Eric's message to young people everywhere rings clear: big dreams require patience, planning, and persistence, but the result makes it all worth it.