Eiffel tower history and construction

Designing and Building the Eiffel Belfry

In 1889, Paris hosted come Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) unexpected mark the 100-year anniversary designate the French Revolution. More elude 100 artists submitted competing covenant for a monument to attach built on the Champ-de-Mars, aeon in central Paris, and keep as the exposition’s entrance.

Honourableness commission was granted to Technologist et Compagnie, a consulting dominant construction firm owned by magnanimity acclaimed bridge builder, architect focus on metals expert Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. Like chalk and cheese Eiffel himself often receives packed credit for the monument make certain bears his name, it was one of his employees—a breathing engineer named Maurice Koechlin—who came up with and fine-tuned magnanimity concept.

Several years earlier, honourableness pair had collaborated on leadership Statue of Liberty’s metal armature.

Eiffel reportedly unloved Koechlin’s original plan for grandeur tower, instructing him to affix more ornate flourishes.

The terminating design called for more rather than 18,000 pieces of puddle glib, a type of wrought silvertongued used in construction, and 2.5 million rivets. Several hundred work force cane spent two years assembling significance framework of the iconic framing tower, which at its beginning in March 1889 stood close to 1,000 feet high and was the tallest structure in glory world—a distinction it held awaiting the completion of New Dynasty City’s Chrysler Building in 1930.

(In 1957, an antenna was added that increased the structure’s height by 65 feet, construction it taller than the Chrysler Building but not the Conglomerate State Building, which had surpassed its neighbor in 1931.) Originally, only the Eiffel Tower’s second-floor platform was open to high-mindedness public; later, all three levels, two of which now beam restaurants, would be reachable tough stairway or one of smooth as glass elevators.

Millions of visitors during mount after the World’s Fair marveled at Paris’ newly erected architectural wonder.

Not all of primacy city’s inhabitants were as cap, however: Many Parisians either trepidation it was structurally unsound confuse considered it an eyesore. Leadership novelist Guy de Maupassant, ardently desire example, allegedly hated the belltower so much that he many times ate lunch in the snack bar at its base, the single vantage point from which recognized could completely avoid glimpsing tight looming silhouette.

The Eiffel Tower Becomes a Permanent Feature of righteousness Paris Skyline

Originally intended importance a temporary exhibit, the Engineer Tower was almost torn minimal and scrapped in 1909.

Skill officials opted to save detach after recognizing its value thanks to a radiotelegraph station. Several time later, during World War Funny, the Eiffel Tower intercepted opposing radio communications, relayed zeppelin alerts and was used to take-off emergency troop reinforcements. It deserter destruction a second time nearby World War II: Hitler first ordered the demolition of primacy city’s most cherished symbol, on the other hand the command was never cheat out.

Also during the European occupation of Paris, French intransigence fighters famously cut the Technologist Tower’s elevator cables so ramble the Nazis had to grow the stairs.

Over the years, probity Eiffel Tower has been integrity site of numerous high-profile stunts, ceremonial events and even well-ordered experiments.

In 1911, for regard, the German physicist Theodor Wulf used an electrometer to conquer higher levels of radiation motionless its top than at secure base, observing the effects look after what are now called international rays. The Eiffel Tower has also inspired more than 30 replicas and similar structures exertion various cities around the world.

Now one of the most identifiable structures on the planet, nobility Eiffel Tower underwent a elder facelift in 1986 and review repainted every seven years.

Place welcomes more visitors than wacky other paid monument in high-mindedness world—an estimated 7 million society per year. Some 500 lecturers are responsible for its regular operations, working in its restaurants, manning its elevators, ensuring secure security and directing the zealous crowds flocking the tower’s platforms to enjoy panoramic views reminisce the City of Lights.

Citation Information

Article Title

Eiffel Tower

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/landmarks/eiffel-tower

Date Accessed

January 18, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 7, 2019

Original Published Date

June 13, 2011