The Eiffel Tower

Lore & Background

The Eiffel Tower is a lattice tower constructed from wrought iron, which has earned it the local nickname "La dame de fer" (French for "Iron Lady"). Its base is square, measuring 125 meters on each side, and the structure rises to a height of 330 meters, making it the tallest structure in Paris. During its construction, it became the first human-made structure to surpass both the 200-meter and 300-meter marks, and it held the title of the world’s tallest structure for 41 years until the Chrysler Building was completed in 1930. Due to a broadcasting aerial added in 1957, it now stands 11 meters taller than the Chrysler Building. Excluding transmitters, it is the second tallest free-standing structure in France after the Millau Viaduct. The tower has three visitor levels, with restaurants on the first and second levels. The top level’s platform sits 276 meters above the ground, offering the highest public observation deck in the European Union. Visitors can ascend by stairs or lift to the first and second levels; the climb from ground to first level is over 300 steps, and from first to second is another 300 steps, making the full ascent 600 steps. The top level is usually accessible only by lift, and it houses a private apartment built for Gustave Eiffel, furnished by Jean Lachaise, where Eiffel entertained guests such as Thomas Edison. The tower was designated a monument in 1964 and became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. It is the most visited paid-entry monument in the world, with 6.91 million visitors in 2015 and 5,889,000 in 2022.

Reader's Guide

Excluding transmitters, it is the second tallest free-standing structure in France after the Millau Viaduct. Its legacy includes its role as a symbol of French engineering and the centennial of the French Revolution, despite initial criticism from artists and intellectuals. The tower’s design originated with two senior engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, who sketched a great pylon of four lattice girders that widen at the base and meet at the top, joined by metal trusses. Gustave Eiffel initially showed little enthusiasm but approved further study, and architect Stephen Sauvestre added decorative arches at the base and a glass pavilion on the first level. Eiffel bought the rights to the patent and presented the plans in 1885, emphasizing practical uses and symbolizing the centennial. After a competition effectively favored Eiffel’s design, a contract was signed in 1887, with Eiffel acting personally rather than as company head; he received 1.5 million francs toward construction, less than a quarter of the estimated cost, and was granted all commercial income from the tower for the exhibition and the following twenty years. A French bank helped finance construction, partly through funds from predatory loans to Haiti tied to an indemnity forcing Haiti to compensate French slaveowners. The tower was built from 1887 to 1889 as the centrepiece of the 1889 World’s Fair. It has three visitor levels, with restaurants on the first and second; the top platform is the highest public observation deck in the European Union. The climb from ground to first level is over 300 steps, and from first to second another 300, totaling 600 steps; the top level is usually reached by lift. A private apartment built for Eiffel on the third level was furnished by Jean Lachaise and hosted guests such as Thomas Edison. The tower received nearly 5.9 million visitors in 2022 and 6.91 million in 2015, making it the most visited paid monument worldwide. It was designated a historic monument in 1964 and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Did You Know?

• The Eiffel Tower is locally nicknamed 'La dame de fer' (French for 'Iron Lady').
• A private apartment built for Gustave Eiffel on the third level was decorated with furniture made by Jean Lachaise.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

Some people believe the Eiffel Tower was immediately embraced by the French public and artistic community. In fact, the proposed tower drew controversy, with a "Committee of Three Hundred" formed against it, including prominent figures like architect Charles Garnier and writer Guy de Maupassant.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

The Eiffel Tower endures not only as an engineering marvel of wrought iron but as a symbol of how bold design can overcome initial public resistance to become an icon. Its continued global recognition shows that even controversial structures can reshape a nation's cultural identity and become beloved landmarks.