A Short History of the Remarkable Beauty of the Eiffel Tower

Some Facts and History You Should Know Before Visiting

Its dazzling feature seems like a canvas of art when seen from afar, and its fascinating structure captivates many and allures all.

The Eiffel Tower is considered as the epitome of romance, and the symbol of Paris, the city of love. This iconic structure, often called as the “Iron Lady,” is undeniably one ineffable portrait of beauty.

How It All Began

The Eiffel Tower was built in January of 1887 and was completed after two years. The tower was supposed to be an entrance arch only intended for the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) to celebrate the beginning of democracy and the centennial of French Revolution.

A number of artists submitted their design, but only Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel was granted a permission to plan and build the monument. With the help of structural engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, a spectacular design and structural work came into place. Though there were artists who protested against the erection of the tower, they eventually made a final design fitting as the centerpiece of Paris.

For over two years, 300 workers assembled the structural framework of the tower. They managed to use more than 2.5 million of rivets and 18,000 pieces of puddle iron, a kind of iron alloy. The Eiffel Tower’s height astoundingly stood nearly 1,000 feet high and was, at that time, the tallest structure in the world—until the construction of the New York City’s Chrysler Building in 1930.

In 1909 the Eiffel Tower was almost dismantled and scrapped, but was luckily saved, for its antenna was used as a radiotelegraph station. During World War I, the tower played an important role for military purposes as it disabled the German radio communications, thus hindered their plan to infiltrate Paris.

The famous tower not only endured the tides of time, but was also the stage for different performers. In fact, Robert Moriarty flew an aircraft under the tower in March of 1984. And in 1987, A. J. Hackett made the first bungee jump from the peak of the Eiffel Tower.

It was also the main attraction during the herald of new millennium on December 31, 1999. There is also a restaurant on the tower’s second platform that can accommodate two hundred people.

Today, the tower is still the focal point of every significant event in France, and even nationwide.

Some Facts You May Want to Know

• Upon the arrival of German soldiers in Paris, the tower’s lift cables were cut by the French.

• When Adolf Hitler ordered the demolition of the tower, the military governor of Paris, General Dietrich von Choltitz defied the order.

• During summer, the tower gets taller by 6 inches due to the effect of thermal expansion—causing the metal to expand or grow.

• The Eiffel tower has imitations from around the world, including Tokyo Tower, Las Vegas Eiffel Tower, Long Ta, Torre Del Reformador, and more.

• It is one of the most visited buildings in the world, with 5.5 million tourists flocking each year from.

• In 2007 Erika La Tour Eiffel married the Eiffel Tower, witnessed by some of her friends. She also changed her name to show her undying love to the Paris’s iconic monument.

• During the night, the tower is protected under copyright law and taking photographs is strictly prohibited and considered illegal.

• Between 1925 to 1934, the tower was used in advertisement as a giant billboard by Citroen, a French car manufacturer.

• The monument is not painted in one color, but with different spectrum of colors to complement the atmospheric perspective.

• 60 tons of paint is used every seven years to keep the tower’s appearance enchanting.

• If you’ve climbed up the tower, you can feel it’s swaying in the wind.