Why Was the Eiffel Tower Built?

Named for its contractor, Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is a major European landmark. It is a freestanding framework tower, known as a lattice tower and is the most famous example of this architectural variety in the world. The tower is located in Champ de Mars in Paris, France and is a symbol for the French nation that is recognized worldwide.

Construction of the tower began in 1887, and the tower was intended as a welcome entrance arch for the 1889 World’s Fair, or Exposition Universelle, held in Paris to mark the one hundredth celebration of the French Revolution.

The tower was actually intended to be built in Barcelona, Spain, but the city’s officials didn’t appreciate the vision of the structure and thought it would clash with the city’s architecture.

Design of the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is 1063 feet tall which is equivalent to about eighty one stories. It weighs about 7300 tons and is repainted every seven years, requiring over fifty tons of paint.

The tallest building in the world at the time of its construction, it is still the single most visited monument in the entire world today. There are three levels of the tower to visit—the first two are accessible via steps and both have restaurants located in them along with shops, meeting rooms and even a theatre.

The third and highest level can be reached by an elevator and offers breathtaking views of Paris (although the most fantastic view of the tower itself is from beneath). In winter, the tower hosts an ice skating rink on the first floor of the tower.

Construction Details

Upon being approved for the tower in Paris, 18,038 pieces of pure structural iron were melded together by three hundred workers. Construction of the tower was highly dangerous, much more so than a typical skyscraper because there are no intermediate levels in the tower.

It was considered a great feat that only one person died in the two years it took to construct. Three architects worked on the design of the building, Emile Nouguier, Marice Koechlin and Stephen Sauvestre.

Public Opinion About the Tower

After the tower was complete for the World’s Fair, many Parisian residents were outraged at the building and considered it ugly, even labeling it an eyesore on the Paris skyline. One prominent novelist even famously ate lunch in the tower, because it was “…the one place in Paris where [he] could not see the structure.”

Since the tower was only intended for the World’s Fair, it initially was only going to stand for twenty years but was constructed to withstand incredibly strong winds—the structure sways no more than five inches in even the strongest gusts of wind.

The tower was built with the intention that it could be demolished quickly and nearly was in 1909, but emerging radio technology saved it since antennas could be mounted atop it. In the First Battle of the Marne in World War II, it was utilized as a communication tower and was henceforth seen as a symbol of victory for France.

No longer considered ugly, today, most people consider the tower a gorgeous work of architectural art, and consider it a romantic destination. As Paris is nicknamed the “City of Lights,” great care is taken in lighting up the tower at night, and lighting often changes due to season or in celebration of various events.

Recognizable Symbol

As an entrance arch for the World’s Fair, it was intended as a symbol of progress and unity. An impeccable sightseeing destination, it has been recreated over a dozen times worldwide and is instantly recognizable to a majority of the world’s people. Although there was a time when the national icon was hated by its city’s people, it is now revered for its unique design and architectural brilliance and is visited by over six million people each year.