The idea of building a Bismarck Tower developed at the same time as the realization of the Bismarck Monument in 1898. The aim was to erect a massive stone tower on the Bierstadter Höhe.

A 50 m high wooden tower ("Bismarck Column") was built in 1910 as a precursor. Despite great support from the population - around 27,000 RM were donated between 1907 and 1910 - there were not enough funds for the planned stone construction.

Due to the spectacular view far into the Rheingau, the wooden tower became a crowd-puller. The rush of visitors to Wiesbaden's new attraction was so great that a tower keeper had to be hired.

In 1916, the Bismarck Tower was closed to the public and used by the military as an observation post. The tower, which was increasingly exposed to decay, was demolished in 1918.