The Eiffel Tower is the tallest structure of Paris. It has been named after its designer, engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. It is an iron tower that was built on the Champ de Mars beside the River Seine in Paris. In French, the tower is called La Tour Eiffel. It's a symbol of Paris worldwide. The tower was built for the Paris Exposition of 1889. It was a World Fair marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. The tower was built between 1887 and 1889. The inaugration took place on 31 March, 1889. It was opened on 6 May.
700 proposals were submitted in a design competition. The one submitted by French structural engineer Gustave Eiffel was chosen. Others who assisted him in the design are engineers Maurice Koechlin, Emile Nouguier and architect Stephen Sauvestre. There were some strong reactions against the construction of the tower. A petition of 300 names was given. It included Maupassant, Emile Zola, Charles Garnier and Dumas the Younger.
Three hundred workers put their labor for the construction of this giant tower. During the construction, 18,038 pieces of puddle iron were joined together. Three and a half million rivets were used. During the construction, there was risk for accidents. Eiffel took full care of the workers with movable stagings, screens and guardrails. Unfortunately, one man died during the installation of Otis Elevator's lifts.
On the tower, seventy-two names are engraved. These are names of French scientists, engineers and other notable personalities. Visitors can visit the gargantuan 1899 machinery in the basement of the eastern and western pillars. This machinery powers the elevators of the Eiffel Tower. From the top of the tower, the view of Paris is superb.
One of the great sights of Paris is the Eiffel Tower at night. The gold lighting at night highlights the steelwork.
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