The Eiffel Tower was built in Paris for the 1889 Exposition Universelle.
The exposition celebrated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and took place on the Champ de Mars beside the Seine. Engineer Gustave Eiffel’s company designed and constructed the tower from wrought iron, using thousands of prefabricated metal pieces.
Construction began in 1887 and finished in 1889. At about 300 metres, the tower became the world’s tallest man-made structure when it opened, surpassing the Washington Monument. Its height has increased over time because of antennas.
Many Paris artists initially criticized the design, but the tower became a major symbol of France. It was intended to be temporary, yet its usefulness for radio and television communications helped preserve it after the exhibition.