Deriving from the Anglo-Saxon word, “spear,” a spire is a pyramidal or conical embellishment atop a building, often capping a tower or cupola. A mainstay of Gothic architecture, people often associate spires with churches and steeples. The spire, does, after all, reach to the Heavens. However, traditionally, spires also signify a display of material wealth on the part of a church. Spires saw a resurgence in popularity as an architectural ornament during the Victorian era. Today, spires also grace modern structures. In fact, some, like the Space Needle, are simply free-standing spires—still reaching for the Heavens, and still heralding mortal success.
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