The Eiffel Tower

1. The Eiffel Tower Created by Myanna Thompson

2. Why and When it was built • Gustave Eiffel designed this structure as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle (a World’s Fair). • It was intended to celebrate the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. • The tower began construction in 1887, and was completed on March 31st, 1889. (Specifically, the construction took 2 years, 2 months and 5 days.)

3. The Tower’s Statistics • Height: 324 m or approximately 1,063 feet • Total Weight: 10,100 tons • Composition: 18,038 pieces, and 2,500,000 rivets • Number of Visitors (as of 12/31/08): 243,376,000 • Number of Stairs: 1665 • For more information and statistics: Official Site of the Eiffel Tower

4. How it was first perceived • The tower was met with much criticism from the public when it was first unveiled. People were shocked by its daring shape, and considered it to be garish and ugly. • “And during twenty years we shall see, stretching over the entire city, still thrilling with the genius of so many centuries, we shall see stretching out like a black dot the odious shadow of the odious column built up of riveted iron plates.” William Watson, Paris Universal Exposition: Civil Engineering, Public Works, and Architecture (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1892), 833. • Guy de Maupaussant ridiculed it as a “high and skinny pyramid of iron ladders” and Leon Bloy compared it to a “truly tragic street lamp.”

5. Eiffel’s Defense • “Now to what phenomenon did I give primary concern in designing the Tower? It was wind resistance. Well then! I hold that the curvature of the monument’s four outer edges, which is as mathematical calculation dictated it should be (…) will give a great impression of strength and beauty, for it will reveal to the eyes of the observer the boldness of design as a whole.” Eiffel- reported to Le Temps, February 14th, 1887

6. Design Features • The Eiffel Tower is comprised of two elements: a base, which stands on four main pillars that are bonded and extended with a much lighter batter at the smaller level that constitutes the second floor, and a tower, which is firmly attached atop. • The value of the pillar base is directly related to the swaying caused by wind forces- to illustrate this construction principle, read Gustav Eiffel’s text, The 300 Meter Tower. • The greatest difficulty in erecting it was the bonding of the four main pillars at the first floor. The erection of the pillars, which are auto-stable, was less difficult, and the tower was erected with even less difficulty- aside from working up so high! For a 360 degree panoramic view Click Here

7. Its Impact • Although the Eiffel Tower was only meant to last for 20 years, it is now one of the world’s most recognizable monuments. • There were 6,822,000 visitors in 2007 alone! • When Thomas Edison visited the tower on September 10th, 1889, he stated, “To M Eiffel the Engineer the brave builder of so gigantic and original specimen of modern Engineering from one who has the greatest respect and admiration for all Engineers including the Great Engineering the Bon Dieu, Thomas Edison”

8. The Man Behind the Tower • For more information on the Gustave Eiffel, the engineer and contractor behind the construction of the Eiffel Tower, follow the following links: • A brief biography focusing mainly on his work • The Wikipedia Bio • Biographie en Francais

9. For Additional Information • Paris.org • Great Buildings- this site has great pictures. • Paris Live- This is a live webcam! • Encyclopedia Brittannica • An Eiffel Tower Thinkquest • Glittering Tower at Night- Video of the Eiffel tower at night

10. I hope that you have enjoyed this virtual field trip! On y va!