The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated in Paris in 1889.
The tower was built as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle, a world’s fair held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Construction began in 1887 and finished in time for the fair’s opening on 6 May 1889. Gustave Eiffel’s company designed and built the iron structure.
The Eiffel Tower was initially intended to be temporary, and some artists and writers in Paris strongly criticized its appearance. It became popular with visitors, however, and was allowed to remain. Its height also made it useful for radio and television transmissions.
A common mix-up is confusing the tower’s inauguration with the date construction began or the date the Paris Exposition opened. The tower officially opened to the public during the 1889 fair, when it was the world’s tallest man-made structure.