Which 1889 structure was built for the Exposition Universelle in Paris?

The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris.

The tower commemorated the centenary of the French Revolution and demonstrated advances in iron construction. Engineer Gustave Eiffel’s company designed and built it, working from plans associated with engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier and architect Stephen Sauvestre.

Construction began in 1887 and finished in 1889. More than 18,000 individual iron parts were assembled with about 2.5 million rivets. At 300 meters tall at its inauguration, it became the world’s tallest man-made structure, surpassing the Washington Monument.

Many artists and intellectuals initially criticized the project, but the tower became a popular success during the exposition. It was intended to be temporary, yet its usefulness for radio and telecommunications helped preserve it. The structure is repainted periodically, and its appearance changes subtly with the color selected for each painting campaign.