The Eiffel Tower was built in Paris for the 1889 Exposition Universelle.
The tower commemorated the centenary of the French Revolution and demonstrated advances in iron construction. Engineer Gustave Eiffel’s company designed and built it, using more than 18,000 individual iron parts joined by about 2.5 million rivets.
Construction began in 1887 and the tower opened to visitors on 31 March 1889, before the exposition officially opened on 6 May. At approximately 300 metres, it was the world’s tallest man-made structure when completed, a record it held until New York’s Chrysler Building surpassed it in 1930.
Many artists and writers initially criticized the design, but the tower survived its planned temporary role and became a permanent radio and communications site. Its height varies slightly with temperature because iron expands in heat. The tower is named for Gustave Eiffel, not for Paris itself.