The Eiffel Tower in Paris was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle and became the world’s tallest structure.
Engineer Gustave Eiffel’s company designed and constructed the iron tower on the Champ de Mars. Work began in 1887, and the monument was completed in time for the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. It opened to visitors on 31 March 1889, before the exposition officially opened on 6 May.
The tower reached 300 metres to its flagpole, making it taller than the Washington Monument, which had held the height record since 1884. Its height later increased as antennas were added. The exposed iron lattice was also an engineering demonstration, showing how a tall structure could withstand wind while using comparatively little material.
Many Parisian artists and intellectuals initially opposed the project, yet it became a defining symbol of France. The Eiffel Tower was intended to be temporary, but its usefulness for radio transmissions helped preserve it. It remains one of the world’s most recognizable paid monuments.