The Eiffel Tower, a Parisian icon, didn’t always enjoy the adoration it receives today. Before its construction and for the first two decades of its existence, the Iron Lady sparked intense debate. Its silhouette, now inseparable from the Parisian landscape, was a long way off.
A Battle for the Skies: Gustave Eiffel’s Tower Triumphs
Gustave Eiffel’s vision of a 1000-foot metal tower faced formidable opposition. In 2023, as we commemorate the centenary of his death, let’s revisit his relentless fight to build this architectural marvel.
The 1889 World Exhibition was the stage for a heated rivalry. Eiffel’s bold project, a symbol of French engineering prowess, was challenged by Jules Bourdais, a renowned architect. Bourdais proposed a grandiose, 1200-foot granite and porphyry tower, a beacon of light dubbed the Sun Tower.
These competing visions represented a stark contrast: stone versus iron, architect versus engineer, classic versus modern. The press became the battlefield, each man rallying supporters behind his vision. Eiffel emphasized his ability to deliver a cost-effective project within a realistic timeframe, playing the patriotic card by arguing that the tower would serve science and national defense.
Bourdais, though charismatic, struggled to convince the public of the feasibility and financial practicality of his stone tower.
A pivotal moment arrived in 1886. With the support of the new Prime Minister, Bourdais’s victory seemed imminent. Yet, Eiffel persisted, approaching Edouard Lockroy, the Minister for Commerce responsible for the World Exhibition. Lockroy, unconvinced by Bourdais’s proposal, was swayed by Eiffel’s arguments and his promise to finance the project in exchange for operational control.
A competition was launched, inviting candidates to “study the possibility of building a 1000-foot iron tower with a square base.” This was tailored for Eiffel’s design. Bourdais, caught off guard, hastily replaced stone with iron in his Sun Tower proposal, but Eiffel and his architect, Stephen Sauvestre, ultimately prevailed.
From Controversy to Icon: The Tower’s Triumph Over Criticism
Eiffel’s victory was just the beginning of his struggles. Architects, outraged at an engineer’s triumph, and the Parisian artistic scene, bristled at the construction. A scathing “Protest against the Tower of Monsieur Eiffel” appeared in Le Temps, signed by prominent artists, writers, and architects.
The protest called the tower “useless and monstrous” and a “Tower of Babel,” an affront to Parisian beauty. Eiffel, however, defended his creation, proclaiming its inherent beauty and emphasizing the strength and harmony of its design, born from the need to withstand wind resistance.
Caricatures flooded the press, and Parisians, initially hesitant about the aesthetics of the emerging structure, echoed the artists’ disdain. Verlaine dubbed it a “belfry skeleton,” Bloy a “tragic street lamp,” and Coppée a “mast of iron gymnasium apparatus.”
Even Guy de Maupassant, a celebrated author, found the tower repulsive. He famously declared that he would only dine on the first floor, as it was the only place in the city where he wouldn’t have to look at it.
However, the widespread public animosity towards the tower was largely unfounded, except for concerns from Champ de Mars residents about their homes. A lawsuit was filed against Eiffel, but he, determined to continue construction, assumed personal liability for any accidents and promised to compensate residents.
On May 15, 1889, the Eiffel Tower opened to the public. Crowds, French and international, flocked to see the marvel, their enthusiasm drowning out all previous controversy. Some of the artists who had vehemently opposed the tower publicly apologized, and the tower was embraced by Parisians, becoming a symbol of modernity and the iconic image of their city.
A Legacy of Resistance and Resilience: The Tower’s Survival
While the world admired the Eiffel Tower, some detractors remained. In 1894, architect Charles Garnier spearheaded a call for new projects for the 1900 World Exhibition, proposing the modification or even demolition of the Eiffel Tower. Despite fantastical ideas for its replacement, no project was chosen, and the tower remained, a central feature of the 1900 exhibition.
Despite its iconic status, the tower was initially intended to be a temporary structure, with a 20-year lifespan. As its contract with Gustave Eiffel neared its end, visitor numbers declined, and the City of Paris considered demolishing the tower to redevelop the Champ de Mars.
But Eiffel, ever the innovator, had a plan. He used the tower as a platform for scientific experiments, showcasing its strategic potential. Weather observations, wireless telegraphy, aerodynamics, and other scientific endeavors were conducted, securing the tower’s scientific and strategic value.
In 1903, Captain Gustave Ferrié, with Eiffel’s support, established a military wireless telegraphy network on the tower. The expanding range of wireless communications cemented the tower’s strategic importance, ensuring its continued existence.
On January 1, 1910, the contract for the Eiffel Tower was renewed for 70 years. The Iron Lady was saved, not just for Paris, but for the world.
