What date was the Eiffel Tower inaugurated?

The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated on March 31, 1889.

The date marked the completion of the tower’s main structural work during preparations for the Exposition Universelle, the world’s fair held in Paris to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution. Gustave Eiffel led government officials and journalists up the unfinished visitor route and raised a French flag at the summit.

The tower was not yet fully open to the general public on that day. Its elevators were still being completed, and the official exposition opened on May 6, 1889. That distinction causes a common mix-up: March 31 marks the inauguration and symbolic completion, while May 6 marks the opening of the fair and public access.

Construction had begun in January 1887 and took just over two years. The tower was built from wrought iron and originally reached roughly 300 metres, making it the tallest human-made structure in the world at the time. It was intended to be temporary, but its scientific and communications value helped preserve it.