The Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle in Paris.
The tower was designed by the engineering company led by Gustave Eiffel and built as the entrance arch for a world’s fair celebrating the centenary of the French Revolution. Construction began in 1887 and took just over two years.
At roughly 300 meters, it was the world’s tallest man-made structure when it opened. Many artists and intellectuals initially criticized its industrial appearance, but the tower soon became a defining symbol of Paris and modern engineering.
The Eiffel Tower was intended to be temporary, and its permit originally allowed it to stand for 20 years. Its usefulness as a radio-telegraph station helped preserve it, and it remains one of the world’s most visited landmarks.