Eiffel Tower Opens

Setting the scene

Paris planned the 1889 Exposition Universelle to celebrate the French Revolution's centennial. Gustave Eiffel, a bridge engineer who had built the framework for the Statue of Liberty, proposed a 1,000-foot iron tower as the entrance arch. The design by Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier was initially ridiculed—artists called it 'a gigantic black smokestack' and 'a hateful column of bolted metal.' Eiffel funded 80% of the cost himself, betting on future ticket sales.

What happened

Construction began January 1887 and took 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days. The tower was assembled from 18,038 iron pieces made in Eiffel's factory, riveted together by 300 workers on site. No one died during construction, remarkable for the era. The tower opened March 31, 1889, and welcomed visitors May 6. At 1,083 feet, it was the world's tallest structure, surpassing the Washington Monument. It used 7,300 tons of iron and 2.5 million rivets.

Why it still matters

The Eiffel Tower was initially planned to be dismantled after 20 years, but its value for radio transmission saved it. It became the symbol of Paris and modernity, influencing Art Nouveau and modernist architecture. It has hosted 300 million visitors and remains the most-visited paid monument worldwide. The tower demonstrated iron's possibilities and engineering's artistic potential. During WWI, its radio intercepted German messages. Today, it's a global icon, proving that initially hated structures can become beloved symbols of human achievement.

Background

It was originally planned as a temporary exhibit.