On this day in 1889, a marvel of architecture was unveiled.
All of Parisian society buzzed with anticipation for the Universal Exhibition — or, “World’s Fair” as coined in America — a showcase of the hosting nation’s innovation and culture. France had already hosted in 1878, followed by Spain, but was selected once more in 1899 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Thus, a bold centerpiece was sought after; ambitious designers and architects pitched their ideas, but it was Gustave Eiffel’s design that was selected: a 985-foot tower of iron. As opposed to the popular architectural styles of brick and stonework, the tower’s blueprints depicted an intricate skeleton of over 18,000 iron pieces, which was brought to life by the labor of 300 workers. Gustave Eiffel wished to memorialize Paris’ engineering and cement the city as an industrial capital of the world.
Unlike the unyielding structure itself, public opinion swayed easily. Initially, the majority of onlookers criticized the tower as being an “eyesore” and a “monstrous black skeleton.” Famously, the author Guy de Maupassant, an avid critic, regularly dined at the adjacent restaurant, claiming it was purely because “it was the only place in Paris he could not see it [the tower].” However, as the tower neared completion, the speed at which it was being constructed amazed people, fueled the passion inside Gustave Eiffel, and steadily increased excitement for its official unveiling.
On the day of the unveiling, Paris swarmed with international tourists. Despite the initial unease, the Eiffel Tower quickly became the most popular attraction, and over 2 million people crowded around to watch Gustave Eiffel ascend to the peak. With the elevators not yet working, he climbed the entire 1,700 steps and, upon reaching the summit, hoisted up the French flag and was met by a 21-gun salute and roaring applause.
Due to its popularity, the tower’s original plan of being scrapped after 20 years was, ironically, scrapped. During World War II, it was used as a transmission tower, allowing it to endure as an icon of France. Today, it remains one of the most popular structures on the planet, garnering over 7 million visitors annually.
Gustave Eiffel’s ambitious vision proved controversial, but, reflecting the spirit of the Universal Exhibition itself, the tower is a testament to the wonder and resilience of the industrial world.
