History

The Eiffel Tower is a mass of iron was designed by Gustave Eiffel for the Universal Exposition, which celebrated the anniversary of the French Revolution. Costing at about $35 million US dollars, the tower was built from 1887 to 1889 and used as for telegraphy. The Eiffel Tower initially received harsh criticism. The structure was unlike any other French architecture, so other French artists were unappreciative of a different and unique artwork, referring to it as “a truly tragic street lamp”. Other engineers felt that the structure disregarded engineering. However, Gustave knew he was going to build the tallest freestanding structure, and designed the Eiffel Tower in a shape that can withstand the wind. Novelist Guy de Maupassant allegedly ate lunch on the Tower everyday because he claimed it was the only place in the city where he cannot see the Eiffel Tower. As the years went by, criticism decreased as it increasingly became popular with tourists. The city of Paris continues to work hard to maintain the tower. To prevent oxidation, the Eiffel Tower is painted an average of every 7 years. It has been painted 17 times and is scheduled to be repainted at the end of this year. As the years pass, technology and engineering become more advanced, Thus, in the 80s, the Eiffel Tower was renovated. It was strengthened and 1,340 tons of material was removed. Today the Eiffel Tower is the tallest structure and the icon of Paris, France.