Artistic Inspiration
The Eiffel Tower has been the subject of numerous works of art, photographs, movies, and books, making it an iconic symbol of France.
Exposition Universelle
It was built as the entrance arch for the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) held in Paris to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
Initial Reactions
When it was first built, many Parisians and artists thought the tower was an eyesore. Some even demanded it be torn down.
Completion Date
The Eiffel Tower was completed on March 15, 1889, taking just over two years to build.
Named After the Engineer
It is named after Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.
Tallest Man-Made Structure
Upon completion, the Eiffel Tower became the tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York.
Height
The Eiffel Tower stands approximately 330 meters tall, roughly the same height as an 81-story building. With its antennas included, it stands 324 meters tall.
Paint
The Eiffel Tower is covered with 60 tons of paint every seven years to prevent it from rusting.
Elevator Trips
The Eiffel Tower’s elevators travel a combined distance of over 103,000 kilometers a year.
Three Levels
The Eiffel Tower has three levels that are accessible to the public. The first and second levels have restaurants, and the third level is an observatory.
Temporary Installation
The Eiffel Tower was originally intended to stand for just 20 years.
Visitors
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world, with millions of people visiting each year.
Light Show
The Eiffel Tower is adorned with 20,000 light bulbs that sparkle for five minutes every hour during the evening.
Wind Resistant
The Eiffel Tower was designed to be wind resistant and only sways a few inches in the wind.
Steps
It takes 1,665 steps to reach the top of the Eiffel Tower by foot. However, visitors can only climb by foot to the second level.
Color
The Eiffel Tower changes color every few years. It has been yellow and brown, but currently, it is bronze.
Sold
A con artist named Victor Lustig “sold” the Eiffel Tower to a scrap metal dealer.
Ice Rink
During the winter, there is an ice rink on the first level of the tower.
Elevator
The original elevators were considered an engineering feat in the late 1800s.
Radio Communications
The Eiffel Tower was reprieved from demolition when it was repurposed as a radio transmission tower.
