The long and surprising story of the Eiffel Tower

On July 12th 1886 the work commission of the universal exposition of Paris 1889 placed on top of the list the project of Gustave Eiffel and Stephen Fauvestre to celebrate the centenary of French revolution.

From then start the Tour Eiffel’s adventure.

The Eiffel Tower received criticisms from architectural, artistic and intellectuals people as well as resident living on the Champ de Mars.
Fortunately, these critics won’t do any harm for the edification of the Tower.

Gustave Eiffel brought answers to his detractors which consist in the complex technical feat representing the edification of the Tower. The strong symbolic of the Eiffel Tower is the radical modernism of metal’s art and gives a worldwide record of altitude for the national pride.
When edified, the Eiffel tower rises to 312m , making it the tallest building in the world until 1929, date of the inauguration of the Chrysler Building in New York.

The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated twice, on March 31th 1889 and at the opening of the exhibition. The Eiffel Tower stands at the exhibition’s entry.

In 1888 Gustave Eiffel confirms the institutional side of his work by creating an anonymous society in order to assume his exploitation.

The Eiffel Tower meets a huge popular success.

The Tower was also a big help for sciences and technics.

The meteorology owes a lot to the Tower as, from 1890, a meteorological station is built at the top.

Gustave Eiffel brought an important contribution to aerodynamics too.

Also, the newborn telegraph brings the Eiffel Tower in public unconscious.
The Eiffel Tower was supposed to be destroyed in 1920, when ground concession expired.

The Eiffel Tower is listed as historical monuments since June 24, 1964 and is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1991.

 

Apart painting and lighting improvements, the Eiffel Tower will remain unchanged and will be the emblem of Paris forever.


Our thanks to Mr Bernard RICHARD who pleasantly informed us about the Eiffel Tower's story.

http://www.toureiffel.paris/