The Eiffel Tower, or la Tour Eiffel as it’s known in French, is a symbol of Paris, a testament to the city’s romantic charm and innovative spirit. Built for the 1889 World’s Fair, it commemorated the French Revolution’s centennial and showcased France’s industrial prowess.
The tower’s construction was a remarkable feat. Gustave Eiffel’s engineering team utilized an astounding 7,300 tons of iron and 2.5 million rivets, completing the structure in a mere two years, two months, and five days. This marvel of engineering stood tall over the Champs de Mars, attracting over two million visitors during the fair.
While millions have witnessed the Eiffel Tower’s grandeur since its debut, its story holds secrets waiting to be discovered. Join us as we delve into some fascinating and little-known facts about this iconic landmark.
Beyond the Obvious: Unveiling the Tower’s Hidden Stories
Despite its worldwide fame, the Eiffel Tower wasn’t universally admired. Before its completion, a group of prominent artists, including Guy de Maupassant and Alexandre Dumas, penned a scathing “Protest against the Tower of Monsieur Eiffel” in the newspaper Le Temps. They decried the tower as an “ugly, monstrous chimney” that would dwarf Paris’s beautiful architecture.
However, the Eiffel Tower persevered. In defiance of its critics, it became one of the most visited monuments in the world, welcoming nearly seven million tourists each year.
The tower’s top level was originally reserved for Gustave Eiffel, who designed a private apartment to host distinguished guests like Thomas Edison. Today, this space is open to the public, showcasing a recreation of Eiffel’s office complete with wax figures of him, his daughter, and Edison.
While Gustave Eiffel’s name graces the tower, it was actually designed by his colleagues, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier. Recognizing the public’s initial aversion to the structure’s stark industrial aesthetic, they enlisted French architect Stephen Sauvestre to soften its appearance. Their design, which ultimately triumphed over 100 other proposals, became the centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair.
A Tower of Surprises: Unexpected Revelations
The Eiffel Tower’s fate was almost sealed. Built to showcase France’s industrial might, the original plan was to demolish the tower after 20 years. However, Eiffel cleverly incorporated a radio antenna and wireless telegraph transmitter into its design, demonstrating the technology’s potential to the government. This foresight earned him a 70-year extension on the tower’s lease, ensuring its survival. By 1980, the Eiffel Tower had become an enduring symbol of both Paris and France, making its demolition unthinkable.
The tower narrowly escaped destruction during World War II. In 1944, as the Nazis’ grip on Paris loosened, Adolf Hitler ordered the city’s destruction. Plans were made to detonate the Eiffel Tower with explosives, but Allied troops arrived just in time to prevent the tragedy. Despite surviving the war, the tower suffered significant damage from air raids.
The Eiffel Tower has a fascinating connection to another iconic symbol: the Statue of Liberty. Sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi enlisted his mentor, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, to design the Statue of Liberty’s internal framework. After Viollet-le-Duc’s death in 1879, Bartholdi turned to Eiffel and Koechlin, whose expertise with iron structures proved invaluable for both Lady Liberty and the Iron Lady.
A Multifaceted Monument: Beyond its Iconic Silhouette
The Eiffel Tower has housed various businesses throughout its history. For six months during the 1889 World’s Fair, the French newspaper Le Figaro occupied an office on the second floor. On the first floor, a post office, a radio station, and a wooden theater designed by Stephen Sauvestre once operated.
Eiffel, a passionate scientist, established a meteorology lab on the tower’s third floor. Here, he conducted physics and aerodynamics research, even building a wind tunnel at the tower’s base. He also opened the lab to other scientists for their experiments.
The Eiffel Tower is a marvel of engineering, even in its responsiveness to nature’s forces. Wind resistance is built into the structure, causing it to sway during storms. The heat of the sun causes the iron to expand, making the tower grow a few centimeters during the summer. It also leans slightly away from the sun, as the side facing the direct light warms up faster than the other sides.
The names of 19th-century French scientists and engineers are etched into the Eiffel Tower, a testament to their lasting contributions. These tributes were covered over in the early 20th century, but thanks to a restoration effort in the late 1980s, they are once again visible. Eagle-eyed visitors can spot names like Foucault, Dumas, and Perrier inscribed on the iron surrounding the tower’s first floor.
Preserving a Legacy: Ensuring the Tower’s Enduring Beauty
Maintaining the Eiffel Tower’s splendor requires a dedicated team. Fifty specially trained painters protect the structure from air pollution, bird droppings, rust, and other factors that could tarnish its appearance. They inspect the tower for corrosion, strip away worn sections, apply multiple coats of anti-rust primer, and cover the metallic tower in 60 tons of paint, all by hand. This arduous process can take anywhere from 18 months to three years, depending on weather conditions.
The Eiffel Tower’s first light show illuminated the night sky in 1925, coinciding with the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. Automaker Andre Citröen funded this dazzling display of 200,000 bulbs, featuring twinkling stars, rotating Zodiac signs, comets, and a finale showcasing his car brand.
Sixty years later, another light show featuring 336 yellow-orange spotlights debuted. The now-famous sparkling light show, consisting of 20,000 bulbs, first graced the night sky on New Year’s Eve 1999, ushering in the new millennium. Today, visitors can enjoy this spectacular display nightly for the first five minutes of every hour starting at 8 p.m., culminating in a 10-minute grand finale at 1 a.m.
While the Eiffel Tower itself is in the public domain, its illumination is protected by copyright under French law. However, this stipulation only applies to pictures taken for professional use. Feel free to capture the tower’s magnificent nighttime glow for your own personal enjoyment.
A Legacy of Innovation: The Eiffel Tower’s Enduring Influence
Climbing to the Eiffel Tower’s peak is a rewarding experience. Celebrate your achievement with a glass of champagne at the Champagne Bar, savoring the breathtaking views with a touch of Parisian elegance.
Gustave Eiffel’s legacy extends far beyond the iconic tower that bears his name. He played a significant role in designing numerous bridges, railways, and viaducts across Europe, including the Maria Pia bridge in Porto, Portugal; the Nyugati (Western) Railway Station in Budapest, Hungary; the Pont de les Piexateries Velles in Girona, Spain; and the Côte d’Azur Observatory’s dome in Nice, France.
The Eiffel Tower holds the distinction of being the world’s tallest building for 40 years. When it was unveiled in 1889, it towered over Paris at 312 meters (1,024 feet), surpassing the Washington Monument’s record of 169 meters (554 feet). This title was relinquished to New York City’s Chrysler Building in 1929, and later to the Empire State Building in 1931. Despite losing its title, the Eiffel Tower’s reign as the world’s tallest building for 40 years remains a remarkable achievement.
From its humble beginnings as a temporary structure to its iconic status as a symbol of Paris and France, the Eiffel Tower has captivated the world with its elegance, engineering prowess, and enduring charm. Its fascinating history and hidden secrets continue to intrigue visitors from all corners of the globe, ensuring its legacy as a timeless treasure.
