Eiffel Tower

There are certain landmarks across the world that have become instantly recognizable. Once you see them, you know exactly what they are and often where they stand. That is certainly true for the Eiffel Tower.

The first time we visited Paris, of course we did what first-time visitors do: we took the ride up the tower. Standing high above the city and looking out across the rooftops is a remarkable experience. Every other time we returned to Paris, we told ourselves we didn’t need to go up again. Yet somehow it remains one of those places that quietly demands a visit. Even if you only walk beneath it, to admire it, the tower seems to draw you back. 

The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, the world’s fair celebrating the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, the structure was meant to demonstrate France’s industrial progress.

When it was completed in 1889, the tower stood 984 feet tall, making it the tallest man-made structure in the world at the time. Its delicate lattice design allowed the massive structure to withstand strong winds while appearing light and graceful.

The tower was intended to be temporary. Many Parisians disliked it and some called it an industrial eyesore that spoiled the beauty of the city. But the tower proved too useful to remove. Its height made it ideal for radio transmission and the structure found a new purpose. So it remained and gradually it became the very symbol of Paris.