Eiffel Tower End of The Year Project

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

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.

At 300 metres 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.

Gustave Alexandre Eiffel

Born on 15 December 1832 Place of Birth Dijon, Côte-d'Or (France) Died on 27 December 1923 Place of Death Paris, Paris (France) Biography Education Studies chemistry at the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures 1856 Employee at Nepveu & Cie., Paris 1857 - 1864 Engineer for the French western railway company then chief of the construction office at Pauvels & Cie. 1864 - 1866 Studies at the Suez Canal site 1866 Founds his own engineering office; designs and builds bridges in France, Spain, Austria, Rumania, Egypt, Peru and Bolivia 1876 - 1879 Bridge construction in Portugal for the Maria-Pia Bridge over the Douro in Porto; Construction of portable truss bridges for the French colonies 1880 Bridge over the Danube near Szeged (Hungary) 1880 - 1884 Garabit Viaduct of the Truyère River in France 1884 First studies for a 300-meter high tower 1885 Interior support structure for the Statue of Liberty 1889 Completion of the Tower; Involvement in the construction of the Panama Canal and implication in the corruption scandal sourrunding it; Eiffel is acquitted of any misconduct 1900 - 1920 Research on the wind resistance of buildings, construction of a wind tunnel

info on Gustave Alexandre Eiffel from http://www.structurae.de/en/index.html?http://www.structurae.de/en/structures/data/str00021.html

made by tim

Eiffel tower web sites

offical site (in french)
offical site (in english)