Which 1889 Paris landmark was designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel?

The Eiffel Tower was the Paris landmark designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel’s company for the 1889 World’s Fair.

Construction began in 1887 and finished in 1889, creating a wrought-iron tower on the Champ de Mars beside the Seine. At about 300 metres tall when completed, it became the world’s tallest man-made structure, surpassing the Washington Monument. It held that title until New York’s Chrysler Building exceeded it in 1930.

The tower was intended to be temporary, and many artists initially criticized its appearance. It survived because it became useful for radio and telegraph experiments and because the public embraced it. Gustave Eiffel himself was an engineer and entrepreneur; he did not personally draw every design detail.

The structure has three public levels and is repainted periodically to protect the iron. It remains one of France’s most recognizable symbols and is often called La Dame de fer, or “Iron Lady,” in French.