The Eiffel Tower, a Parisian icon and the world’s most-visited paid monument, is in need of attention. While a $60 million renovation project is underway to prepare the tower for the 2024 Paris Olympics, some worry that the efforts aren’t enough. Confidential reports suggest that the tower is in a state of disrepair, and its planned maintenance is inadequate. This leads to questions about the tower’s future and its ability to withstand the test of time. To understand these concerns, let’s delve into the tower’s history, its construction, and the challenges it faces.
A Century of History and Global Fame
The Eiffel Tower’s construction began in 1887 and was completed in just two years, two months and five days. This “300-meter Tower,” as it was originally known, opened to the public in 1889, coinciding with the Exposition Universelle, or Paris World’s Fair, which commemorated the centennial of the French Revolution. Despite criticism from prominent figures, the tower was an instant success, welcoming over 2 million visitors in its first year. Today, the tower receives around 7 million visitors annually, cementing its status as a global icon.
A Masterpiece of Engineering and Design
The Eiffel Tower’s impressive size is undeniable. It stands at a towering 984 feet (300 meters) tall and sits on a base measuring 410 feet (125 meters) wide. The tower’s metal frame weighs a remarkable 7,300 tons (6,622 metric tons). Its shape, according to Professor Benjamin Schafer, an expert in civil engineering, is “the perfect shape for resisting wind load.” Despite its imposing size, the tower is surprisingly graceful, a testament to Gustave Eiffel’s genius in structural engineering.
The Constant Battle Against the Elements
While the Eiffel Tower appears graceful in photos, it is, in reality, a victim of the relentless forces of nature. Its iron structure is constantly under attack from corrosion – a chemical reaction that occurs when iron reacts with oxygen and moisture. To protect the tower, it has been painted seven different colors since its construction. The most recent color, “Eiffel Tower brown,” was chosen for its harmony with the Parisian cityscape, but a golden hue is planned for the 2024 Olympics.
Preserving a Legacy: Maintenance and Renovation
To combat corrosion and ensure the tower’s longevity, a complete paint job is applied every seven years, a frequency recommended by Gustave Eiffel himself. This process involves stripping, cleaning, applying rust-proofing, and repainting the entire structure. The tower’s design, inspired by arched iron bridges, like the Ponte Maria Pia in Porto, Portugal, also reflects Gustave Eiffel’s expertise in metal structures.
A Balancing Act: Tourism and Preservation
The planned renovation of the Eiffel Tower for the Olympics included stripping a third of the tower and applying two new coats of paint. However, due to COVID-19 delays and concerns about lead in the old paint, only 5 percent of the tower will be treated. The Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), the organization responsible for the tower’s maintenance and operation, faces a balancing act between meeting tourist demands and ensuring the tower’s preservation. While they are reluctant to temporarily close the tower for renovation, reports from 2010 to 2016 have raised concerns about the tower’s condition and maintenance.
A Continuous Effort: The Future of the Eiffel Tower
Maintaining the Eiffel Tower is a constant challenge, but one that is worth it. Its iconic status and its importance as a symbol of progress and engineering ingenuity make its preservation a priority. Despite the challenges, the Eiffel Tower remains a beloved landmark, drawing millions of visitors annually.
