The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle and designed by Gustave Eiffel’s company.
The exposition celebrated the centenary of the French Revolution. The tower was intended as a temporary centerpiece and demonstrated the possibilities of wrought-iron engineering. Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier developed the original concept, while architect Stephen Sauvestre refined its visual design.
Construction began in 1887 and finished in 1889. At about 300 metres, it became the world’s tallest man-made structure at the time, surpassing the Washington Monument. Its height changes slightly with temperature because iron expands in heat.
Many Parisians initially criticized its appearance, but the tower became a lasting symbol of Paris. It was not built as a medieval monument and is made primarily from puddled iron, not steel or stone.