The Eiffel Tower is one of the well-known human engineering constructs in the history of the world. Located in France, it is considered as one of the cultural icons worldwide to the point that it is one of the most recognizable structures. There is a great detail of story regarding its construction and history, and it holds a significant part not only in the history of France but also in the history of the world as a whole.
THE EIFFEL TOWER: ORIGINS
The concept of building the Eiffel Tower came about when senior engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier thought of making a centerpiece that would represent the French Revolution at the 1889 Exposition Universelle. The idea of making a tower was inspired by New York City’s Lattling Observatory. The concept of the tower was initially four metal girders which would join at the top. Over time, Gustave Eiffel, the head of the company in which Koechlin and Nouguier worked for, showed interest in the project and asked Stephen Sauvestre, the head of the architectural department, to contribute (Harvie 78).
After finishing the design, he patented it and presented it on March 30 1885 to the Société des Ingénieurs Civils. On the 12th of May in 1886, the design was approved to be the representative of France in the world fair and on 8th of January of the next year, a contract to build the tower was signed (“Origins and Construction of the Eiffel Tower”).
Not all French people agreed to the construction of the tower, however. A group of 300 people, including some of France’s most notable figures during that time such as Guy de Maupassant and Jules Massenet and led by Charles Garnier was formed. A petition against the construction was signed to Charles Alphand, Minister of Works and Commissioner for the Exposition, and it asserts that the tower will tamper with the Parisian beauty. Nevertheless, construction continued until the end of March 1889 (Arbuckle). On March 31 of the same year, Eiffel led prominent figures to a tour of the tower up to the top. The tower was opened to the public on May 6, to grand success. The permit of the tower was due to last for 20 years, after which the City of Paris would demolish it; however, it was decided against as the tower proved valuable for communicating and meteorological purposes (Klein).
THE EIFFEL TOWER: SIGNIFICANCE
The Eiffel Tower is an important landmark in the history of humankind. It has been used as a venue for various scientific experiments such as measuring air resistance and the discovery of cosmic rays. It has also been a site for many historical events like in the Second World War. Various stunts were also conducted in the Eiffel Tower. More recently, it was chosen as a venue for significant events such as Countdown to the Year 2000. The lights in the tower serve as beacons for the Parisian nightscape (Smith & Metcalf).
THE EIFFEL TOWER TODAY
Today, the Eiffel tower is one of the most prominent features of France’s skyline. It serves its purpose as a site for communications, and it is also a popular tourist attraction. An estimated number of 7 million people visit the location each year. It is also frequently referenced in popular culture (Arbuckle).
With its beauty and impact on the history of France and the world, it is unquestionable that the Eiffel tower is one of the most prominent and popular icons on a global scale and it still continues this feat to this day.
Works Cited
Arbuckle, Alex Q. “Building the Eiffel Tower”. Mashable, mashable.com/2015/10/14/building-eiffel-tower/. Accessed 6 Jan. 2017.
Harvie, David. Eiffel: The Genius Who Reinvented Himself. Sutton, 1985.
Klein, Christopher. “10 Things You May Not Know About the Eiffel Tower”. History, history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-eiffel-tower, 2014. Accessed 6 Jan. 2017.
“Origins and Construction of the Eiffel Tower”. The Eiffel Tower,.toureiffel.paris/en/everything-about-the-tower/themed-files/69.html. Accessed 6 Jan. 2017.
Smith, Oliver & Metcalf, Tom. “When did the Eiffel Tower open to the public?” Telegraph, telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/france/parisandaround/11505668/Eiffel-Tower-facts.html, 2015. Accessed 6 Jan. 2017.
