VISIT FRANCE | Eiffel Tower
About Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron lattice tower in Paris, France, named after engineer Gustave Eiffel. Built from 1887 to 1889.
It was initially criticized for its design but is now a symbol of global significance for France.
Dubbed “La dame de fer,” it attracted a record-breaking 5,889,000 visitors in 2022, making it the world’s top visited monument of its kind.
6.91 million visitors came in 2015. It’s a monument historique and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1964 and 1991 respectively.
Who made Eiffel Tower?
The Eiffel Tower was designed by senior engineers Koechlin and Nouguier of Compagnie des Établissements Eiffel.
The project aimed to create a fitting centerpiece for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, commemorating the French Revolution’s hundredth anniversary.
Koechlin sketched the initial idea in May 1884, but Eiffel initially showed limited enthusiasm.
Two engineers consulted Stephen Sauvestre, the head of the company’s architectural department, who added ornamental elements.
Eiffel eventually gave his approval and acquired the rights to the patent.
A commission established in May 1886 ultimately selected Eiffel’s design.
Contract signed Jan. 1887. Eiffel receives 1.5 million francs, operates tower’s business for 20 years.
What kind of metal is the Tower made of?
The Eiffel Tower, built in only 2 years and 2 months, was made of a kind of iron called “puddle iron.” .
Iron from Pompey forges in France was puddled, assembled with rivets at a factory in Levallois Perret.
Prefabrication allowed for a speedy construction process.
To protect the iron from corrosion, it is painted every 7 years, as per Gustave Eiffel’s recommendation.
Why was the Tower built?
The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Paris World’s Fair, showcasing new metal architecture in a park.
The tower was first called the “300-meter Tower” but it was later named after the person who made it, Gustave Eiffel.
The tower opened to the public on the same day as the Paris World’s Fair, which was on May 15, 1889.
Despite initial opposition, the tower became very popular with over 2 million visitors in the first year.
Why is the Eiffel Tower shaped like the A letter?
In 1884, two of Gustave Eiffel’s engineers proposed building a 300-meter-tall metal tower for Paris’ 1889 World’s Fair.
These engineers knew how to build large metal structures like bridges and viaducts, so it made sense for them to create the tower.
The tower’s initial design had a pylon with four sturdy, diagonal legs made of interconnected beams and open-web joists.
All of these shapes and curves are similar to the viaducts built around the same time by Eiffel.
So, it’s important to understand the timeline and skills that led to the creation of the Eiffel Tower.
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