The Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic monuments in the world, celebrates its 134th anniversary today. Built for the 1889 Universal Exhibition, the tower was a technological marvel of its time and is still considered an engineering masterpiece. Gustave Eiffel, the French engineer behind its construction, designed the tower to showcase French engineering to the world.
During its construction, around 200-250 people worked on the tower at any given time, and it took 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days to complete. The tower stands at 1083 feet tall and held the title of the tallest man-made structure in the world for over four decades until it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building in New York City. The Eiffel Tower is made up of 18,038 iron parts and 2,500,000 rivets, and weighs a total of 10,100 tons.
Visitors can take a glass-walled lift to the top of the tower, which boasts an observation deck that offers breathtaking views of Paris and its landmarks, as well as the Seine River. The tower has seven elevators, with a capacity ranging from 650 to 1,140 people per hour, and they travel at a speed of 2 meters per second.
One unique feature of the tower is its long antenna, which enabled it to increase its height in March 2022. The tower, previously nicknamed ‘the 300-meter tower,’ exceeded its original height and celebrated its elevation to 330 meters on March 22, 2022. The original height of the tower without the antennas is 1,024 feet.
The tower’s total width on the ground is 410 feet, with each pillar measuring 82 feet wide. The tower has three levels, with the first floor standing at 187 feet and covering 14,485 square feet, the second floor standing at 377 feet and covering 4,692 square feet, and the third floor standing at 906 feet and covering 820 square feet.
The Eiffel Tower has an interesting history. Its construction was met with controversy and opposition from some who deemed it too modern and industrial for Paris. However, it quickly became a success and an iconic symbol of the city. In fact, during World War II, Hitler ordered the tower to be destroyed, but his command was ignored by the French resistance, who reportedly cut the elevator cables to the tower to deter any potential attacks.
Despite its popularity, the Eiffel Tower has faced its share of challenges over the years. In 1986, a terrorist bomb exploded at the tower, killing two and injuring several others. The tower was closed for a few days before reopening to the public. In 2015, the tower was briefly closed due to safety concerns when an intruder was found climbing the tower.
Today, the tower remains an important symbol of France and welcomes almost 7 million visitors every year, making it the most visited monument that requires paid admission in the world. Since its opening, almost 300 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower from around the world. The tower has also been a popular location for film and television. It has appeared in numerous movies, including “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” “Ratatouille,” and “A View to a Kill,” among others.
2023 is a special year for the Eiffel Tower, as it marks tributes to its creator, Gustave Eiffel. The Eiffel Tower esplanade will host a UNESCO-labelled exhibition called “Eiffel, always higher!”, which will be available to everyone, showcasing Gustave Eiffel’s challenging journey to launch his project and the technical and aesthetic obstacles he faced. Visitors to the monument will be offered immersive 360° experiences via their smartphones, and they will see key moments in the monument’s history through augmented reality technology, bringing to life the story of the tower’s construction and its evolution over the years. These events and experiences organized by the ADGE serve to honor Gustave Eiffel’s legacy and celebrate the tower’s 134 years of existence.
In conclusion, the Eiffel Tower stands as an engineering masterpiece and an important cultural icon. From its unique design to its impressive height and stunning views, the Eiffel Tower remains an iconic symbol of France and one of the most beloved landmarks in the world.