Brief History of the Eiffel Tower

Initially, the career of Gustav Eiffel planned was for him to become a chemist and to take over his uncle's vinegar and paint factory. So it was mapped out that he was to study chemistry until university. It was not meant to be. A family dispute occurred after he graduated with a chemistry degree in the early 1850s.

Brilliant Metallurgical Engineer

In 1855, aged 23, Eiffel got employed by a company that design and manufacture railway bridges. Gustav Eiffel possessed brilliant skill in metallurgy and soon enough, he was recognized by the engineering industry. He became renowned for his mastery with iron construction.

Construction of New York's Statue of Liberty

His talents and skills caught the attention of sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who had been assigned the massive undertaking of creating New York's Statue of Liberty as a gift to America. Bartholdi asked Eiffel to design and construct the statue's iron skeleton.

Arch Design Monument for Paris World Fair 

Eiffel returned to Paris after overseeing the raising of the Statue if Liberty in 1886. Upon his return he found out that the city government of Paris had launched a competition for architects and engineers to design a monument as the entrance arch for the Paris World's Fair of 1889. Eiffel was on of 700 entries; the judges unanimously chose him.  

Petition against the Eiffel Tower

Despite a petition against the design of the  'useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower'  from some 300 prominent Parisians including writers, artists, sculptors and architects, work began in the Parc du Champs-de-Mars on 1 July 1887. The edifice rose as hundreds of workers worked on 18,038 pieces of iron with 2.5 million rivets. The risk of accident was great, but only one man died during the construction. This has been credited to Eiffel's strict adherence to safety measures, precise and meticulous planning.  

Eiffel Tower - Tallest and Magnificent

As planned, the Eiffel Tower was completed on March 31 1889. It was opened soon after by the Prince of Wales. Rising 300 metres and weighing 8.56 million kilograms, it cost 7.8 million francs. 1889, The Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world, and remains so until 1930 when New York's Chrysler Building is completed.

20th Century Paris

In 1940 during World War II, when the Nazis occupied Paris, the Parisians cut the tower's life cables so that Hitler will be forced to walk the 1665 steps to the top. He had to stay on the ground. As the allied troops near Paris in 1944, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Cholitz to destroy the tower. The General refused.

21st  Century Paris

Two million visitors made the pilgrimage to the Eiffel arrived during its first year. The 200th millionth tourist arrived in 2002. Originally, Eiffel only had a twenty-year permit on the tower in order to recoup expenses, but due to the monument's positive cultural and financial impact, when it came time to tear it down in 1909 the authorities permitted it to remain standing for a little longer.  

In 2000, flashing lights and searchlights are installed on the tower, creating a spectacular nightly light show, but angered many Parisians.

Today, a visit to Paris is not complete without an experience of the Eiffel Tower. Numerous lovers, celebrities and ordinary people, join the hoards of romantics who propose marriage atop the tower.