Eiffel Tower Opens
The Eiffel Tower, an iconic symbol of Paris, officially opened to the public on March 31, 1889, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Designed by the French engineer Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the tower is a striking example of iron latticework, initially met with skepticism by Parisians for its unconventional aesthetic. Over the years, however, it has gained recognition as an engineering marvel and a beloved landmark. Rising nearly 1,000 feet and constructed from over 7,000 tons of wrought iron, the Eiffel Tower features four arched legs that converge into a single towering structure. It includes observation decks, elevators, a restaurant, and facilities for radio and television transmission, drawing millions of visitors annually. Eiffel, who also contributed to the design of the Statue of Liberty, expanded his career into various engineering fields until his passing in 1923. Today, the Eiffel Tower stands as a testament to innovation and cultural significance, representing the spirit of Paris and attracting tourists from around the world.
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Eiffel Tower Opens
Eiffel Tower Opens
The world-famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, first opened on March 31, 1889, during the 100th anniversary celebration of the French Revolution. Its unique iron latticework design was at first regarded skeptically by Parisians, who thought that it was unaesthetic, but over the years the Tower has come to be admired as an engineering marvel and beloved as a symbol of Paris.
The Eiffel Tower is the namesake of Alex-andre-Gustave Eiffel, a French architect and engineer. Born on December 15, 1832, in Dijon, France, Eiffel was raised and educated in Dijon and Paris. He became a construction engineer and during the 1860s and 1870s earned a considerable reputation for building excellent steel and wrought-iron bridges. In the early 1880s Eiffel also participated in the design and construction of the Statue of Liberty, a monumental gift by the nation of France to the United States of America. Shortly afterwards, he began work on what was to become the Eiffel Tower for the Paris International Exposition of 1889, the centennial of the French Revolution.
Consisting of over 7,000 tons of wrought-iron gridwork, the Eiffel Tower rises gracefully from four arched legs which curve inward to form a single tower that rises nearly 1,000 feet. With additions made over the years, the structure now has such facilities as observation decks, elevators, radio and television transmitters, and even a restaurant (where the table lamps are miniature Eiffel Towers). It attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year and has become one of the most prominent landmarks of Paris, even though at first many critics were appalled at its bare-bones industrial style. As for Eiffel himself, he went on to work in other fields, including aircraft design. He died on December 23, 1923, in Paris.