Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

EIFFEL TOWER

Engineer/builder: Gustave Alexandre Eiffel
Height:
984 feet (1,051 feet with antenna addition for television transmission).
When built, it was the worlds tallest structure. There are 3 platforms, 1,652 steps to climb to the top (there's also an elevator!).
Dates:
Built 1887-1889 for the World's Fair in 1889 which celebrated the centennial of the French Revolution 1789-1799.
Construction:
Cross-braced latticed girder for minimum wind resistance built of 7,000 tons of high quality wrought iron in 18,000 parts using 300 skyjacks and held together by 2.5 million rivets. It is one of the earliest examples of wrought iron construction of this magnitude.
Weight:
7,000 tons. It takes 52 tons of paint every seven years to repaint it.
Movement: the top never sways more than 4.5 inches even in the strongest winds, but the height can change 6 inches depending on the temperature.
View:
On a very clear day you can see 42 miles from the 3rd platform.
Visitors:
Over 4 million per year

Eiffel Tower history:
The bold and unusual design caused considerable controversy. Many Frenchmen were vocal in their disapproval, including the famous: Charles Garnier, architect of the Opera; Gounod, composer; and writers Francois Coppee, Leconte de Lisle, Dumas the Younger, Maupassant. Others, Apollinaire, Cocteau, Pissarro, Dufy, Utrillo, Seurat, Marquet were strongly in favor. It was nearly torn down in 1909, but it's use for French radio telegraphy saved it. In 1916 it became the terminal for the first radio telephone service across the Atlantic. A meteorological station, radio communications station (1918), television transmission antenna (1957) and a suite of rooms used by Eiffel are located near the top.

The Eiffel Tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened the tower. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel's was unanimously chosen.

However it was not accepted by all at first, and a petition of 300 names - including those of Maupassant, Emile Zola, Charles Garnier (architect of the Opéra Garnier), and Dumas the Younger - protested its construction.

At 300 metres (320.75m including antenna), and 7000 tons, it was the world's tallest building until 1930. Other statistics include:

  • 2.5 million rivets.
  • 300 steel workers, and 2 years (1887-1889) to construct it.
  • Sway of at most 12 cm in high winds.
  • Height varies up to 15 cm depending on temperature.
  • 15,000 iron pieces (excluding rivets).
  • 40 tons of paint.
  • 1652 steps to the top.

It was almost torn down in 1909, but was saved because of its antenna - used for telegraphy at that time. Beginning in 1910 it became part of the International Time Service. French radio (since 1918), and French television (since 1957) have also made use of its stature.

During its lifetime, the Eiffel Tower has also witnessed a few strange scenes, including being scaled by a mountaineer in 1954, and parachuted off of in 1984 by two Englishmen. In 1923 a journalist rode a bicycle down from the first level. Some accounts say he rode down the stairs, other accounts suggest the exterior of one of the tower's four legs which slope outward.

However, if its birth was difficult, it is now completely accepted and must be listed as one of the symbols of Paris itself.

The tower has three platforms. A restaurant (extremely expensive; reservations absolutely necessary), the Jules Verne is on the second platform. The top platform has a bar, souvenir shop, and the (recently restored) office of Gustave Eiffel.

From its platforms - especially the topmost - the view upon Paris is superb. It is generally agreed that one hour before sunset, the panorama is at its best.

Back to Top     Home     Proceed on to one of Rome's glory's.