Different approaches to developing an accurate model of the binding conformation of paclitaxel (Taxol, PTX) on beta-tubulin are discussed. Electron crystallography, molecular modeling, NMR and synthetic studies all point to the T-Taxol conformation as the bioactive form. The range of molecular designs represented by synthetic taxoids prepared to test the latter, with an emphasis on internally bridged analogs, is summarized. Key implications and conclusions derived from the retrospective are presented.