The 1889 Paris tower designed by Gustave Eiffel for the Exposition Universelle is the Eiffel Tower.
The tower was built as the entrance arch and centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair, held to mark the centenary of the French Revolution. Engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier developed the initial concept, while architect Stephen Sauvestre refined its appearance. Gustave Eiffel’s company constructed the iron lattice structure from prefabricated pieces joined by more than two million rivets.
Construction began in January 1887 and the tower opened on 31 March 1889, before the exposition formally opened in May. At 300 metres, it became the world’s tallest human-made structure, surpassing the Washington Monument. Radio antennas later increased its height. Although some prominent artists and writers initially criticized its design, the tower became a lasting symbol of Paris and France. It was not intended to stand permanently, but its usefulness for communications helped preserve it.