The Eiffel Tower isn’t just a famous landmark—it’s a game-changer in architecture. When Gustave Eiffel built it for the 1889 World’s Fair, critics called it an eyesore. But over 130 years later, it’s still standing strong, proving them all wrong.
With its bold use of iron and groundbreaking design, the tower set the stage for modern skyscrapers. This guide dives into how it was built, why it’s so revolutionary, and what makes it last.
One of the world's greatest wonders, the Eiffel Tower, took only 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days to build. The engineers and architects who made it possible are:
Unlike the Neo-Gothic, Neo-Baroque, and Renaissance styles that dominated 19th-century Paris, the Eiffel Tower was a bold leap into modern engineering.
Standing at 330 meters (1,083 ft), the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world when it was completed—and it still dominates the Paris skyline today!
Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator: Summit or Second Floor
Eiffel Tower Elevator Tickets with Host to Summit or Second Floor
Combo: Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator with Seine River Cruise
The Eiffel Tower was a game-changer for architecture. Its iron lattice structure defied traditional building methods and became a blueprint for modern skyscrapers.
Whether you admire it from below or sip champagne at the top, its brilliance is undeniable.
The Latting Observatory (New York, 1853) and early iron bridge designs influenced its framework.
Its lattice iron design, wind resistance, and height made it a groundbreaking engineering marvel in 1889.
It has four legs supporting an open-frame iron skeleton, tapering into a single tower column at the top.
The flexible iron design absorbs wind force, causing the tower to sway up to 9 cm in strong winds.
Yes! The Eiffel Tower’s first sketches are displayed in Gustave Eiffel’s office at the summit.
Many Parisian artists and intellectuals, including Guy de Maupassant and Charles Gounod, saw the Eiffel Tower as an ugly monstrosity that clashed with Paris’s classical architecture. Over time, it became one of the world’s most beloved landmarks.
Due to thermal expansion, the tower grows by up to 15 cm (6 inches) in summer and shrinks in winter. The south side expands more in the heat, causing the top of the tower to slightly lean away from the sun.
If the Eiffel Tower were made of solid iron, instead of its lattice structure, it would be too heavy to support itself and would collapse under its own weight. The open framework keeps it light yet strong.
