Eiffel Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eiffel Tower |
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Tour Eiffel (French)
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Seen from the Champ de Mars
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| Record height | |
| Tallest in the world from 1889 to 1930 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Observation tower Broadcasting tower |
| Location | 7th arrondissement, Paris, France |
| Coordinates | 48°51′29.6″N 2°17′40.2″E / 48.858222°N 2.294500°E |
| Construction started | 28 January 1887 |
| Completed | 31 March 1889 |
| Opening | 15 May 1889 |
| Owner | City of Paris, France |
| Management | Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE) |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 300 m (984 ft) |
| Tip | 330 m (1,083 ft) |
| Top floor | 276 m (906 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 (3 Accessible + 1 Residual) |
| Lifts/elevators | 8 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Stephen Sauvestre |
| Structural engineer | Maurice Koechlin Émile Nouguier |
| Main contractor | Compagnie des Etablissements Eiffel |
| References | |
| I. | |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Part of | Paris, Banks of the Seine |
| Criteria | Cultural: i, ii, iv |
| Inscription | 1991 (15th Session) |
The Eiffel Tower ( EYE-fəl; French: Tour Eiffel) is a famous wrought iron tower in Paris, France. It stands on the Champ de Mars park. The tower is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel. His company designed and built it between 1887 and 1889.
People in France sometimes call it "La dame de fer", which means "The Iron Lady". It was built as the main attraction for the 1889 World's Fair. This fair also celebrated 100 years since the French Revolution. At first, some artists and thinkers didn't like its design. But now, it's a worldwide symbol of France. It's one of the most famous buildings on Earth.
The Eiffel Tower is the most visited monument in the world that charges an entrance fee. In 2015, over 6.9 million people went up the tower. In 2022, it welcomed 5.8 million visitors. In 1964, it became a French historical monument. In 1991, it was made part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site is called "Paris, Banks of the Seine".
The tower is about 330 metres (1,083 ft) tall. This is like an 81-story building. It is the tallest structure in Paris. Its base is square, measuring 125 metres (410 ft) on each side. When it was built, the Eiffel Tower became the tallest human-made structure in the world. It held this record for 41 years. In 1930, the Chrysler Building in New York City became taller. The Eiffel Tower was the first building to be over 200 and 300 meters tall. In 1957, a broadcasting aerial was added to the top. This made it taller than the Chrysler Building by 5.2 metres (17 ft).
The tower has three levels for visitors. There are restaurants on the first and second levels. The top level's platform is 276 m (906 ft) high. This is the highest observation deck open to the public in the European Union. You can buy tickets to go up by stairs or lift to the first and second levels. It's over 300 steps to the first level. It's another 300 steps to the second level. This makes a total of 600 steps. You can usually only reach the top level by lift. Gustave Eiffel had a private apartment on the third level. He decorated it and invited friends like Thomas Edison.
Contents
Building the Eiffel Tower
How the Idea Started
The idea for the Eiffel Tower came from Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier. They were engineers for Gustave Eiffel's company. They wanted to create a special building for the 1889 World's Fair. This fair was to celebrate 100 years of the French Revolution. In 1884, Koechlin drew a first sketch. He described it as "a great pylon" with four metal legs joining at the top.
Eiffel wasn't very excited at first. But he allowed them to study it more. The engineers then asked Stephen Sauvestre, an architect, to help. Sauvestre added decorative arches at the bottom. He also added a glass building on the first level. These changes made Eiffel support the idea. He bought the rights to the design.
On March 30, 1885, Eiffel shared his plans with engineers. He talked about how useful the tower would be. He said it would show "the art of the modern engineer" and the "century of Industry and Science". He believed it would express France's thanks for the 1789 Revolution.
Things moved slowly until 1886. Then, a budget for the fair was approved. A competition was held for the fair's main attraction. Eiffel's design was almost guaranteed to win. This was because entries had to include a plan for a 300 m (980 ft) metal tower. Building a 300-meter tower was a huge challenge back then. On January 8, 1887, a contract was signed. Eiffel received 1.5 million francs for construction. This was less than a quarter of the total cost. He would get all the money from the tower's visitors for 20 years. He even started a separate company to manage it.
Artists' Concerns
Many people were worried about the tower. Some thought it was impossible to build something so tall. Others didn't like how it looked. This led to a big debate in France about art and engineering. As work began, a group called the "Committee of Three Hundred" was formed. It included famous artists like Charles Garnier and Guy de Maupassant.
On February 14, 1887, they sent a letter to the Minister of Works. It was published in a newspaper. They wrote: "We, writers, painters, sculptors, architects... protest with all our strength... against the building... of this useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower... Imagine a silly, huge tower looking over Paris like a giant black smokestack. It would crush Notre Dame, the Louvre, and all our other monuments. They would disappear in this awful dream."
Gustave Eiffel replied by comparing his tower to the Egyptian pyramids. He said, "My tower will be the tallest building ever built by man. Won't it also be grand in its own way? And why would something amazing in Egypt be ugly and silly in Paris?" Some people changed their minds once the tower was built. But others, like Guy de Maupassant, never did. He supposedly ate lunch in the tower's restaurant every day. He said it was the only place in Paris where he couldn't see the tower.
By 1918, the Eiffel Tower had become a symbol of Paris and France. The poet Guillaume Apollinaire even wrote a poem in the shape of the tower. This showed his feelings about the war. Today, many people see it as a wonderful piece of art and engineering.
How it was Built
Work on the tower's foundations began on January 28, 1887. The foundations for the east and south legs were simple. Each leg rested on four concrete slabs. But the west and north legs were closer to the Seine river. They needed deeper foundations. Workers used special compressed-air caissons to dig down 22 m (72 ft). These supported thick concrete slabs.
The foundations were finished on June 30. Then, the metal parts started to go up. A lot of detailed work happened before this. The design office made 1,700 general drawings and 3,629 detailed drawings. These were for the 18,038 different parts needed. The parts were made in a factory nearby. They arrived on horse-drawn carts. Workers first bolted them together. Then, they replaced the bolts with rivets as construction went on. No drilling or shaping was done on site. If a part didn't fit, it went back to the factory. In total, 18,038 pieces were joined using 2.5 million rivets.
At first, the legs were built like cantilevers (sticking out without support). But halfway to the first level, they paused to build a large wooden scaffold. This made people worry about the tower's safety. Newspapers even had headlines like "Gustave Eiffel Has Gone Mad." But Eiffel had strong safety rules. He used movable walkways, guardrails, and screens. Because of this, only one person died during construction.
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18 July 1887:
Starting to put up the metalwork -
7 December 1887:
Building the legs with scaffolding -
20 March 1888:
Finishing the first level -
15 May 1888:
Starting to build the second stage -
21 August 1888:
Finishing the second level -
26 December 1888:
Building the upper stage -
15 March 1889:
Building the cupola
Opening Day and the 1889 World's Fair
The main building work was finished by the end of March 1889. On March 31, Eiffel celebrated. He led a group of government officials and reporters to the top. The lifts weren't working yet, so they walked up. It took over an hour. Most people stopped at the lower levels. But a few, including Eiffel, made it to the top. At 2:35 pm, Eiffel raised a large French flag. A 25-gun salute was fired from the first level.
The tower opened to the public nine days after the World's Fair began on May 6. Even then, the lifts weren't ready. But people loved it! Nearly 30,000 visitors climbed the 1,710 steps to the top. The lifts started working on May 26. By the end of the fair, 1,896,987 people had visited.
At night, hundreds of gas lamps lit up the tower. A beacon sent out red, white, and blue lights. Searchlights lit up other buildings at the fair. A cannon at the top announced the fair's daily opening and closing.
On the second level, a French newspaper, Le Figaro, had an office. They printed a special souvenir newspaper there. There was also a pastry shop. At the top, there was a post office. Visitors could send letters and postcards. Gustave Eiffel also had paper on the walls for visitors to write their thoughts. He called the collection of comments "truly curious."
Famous visitors included the Prince of Wales, actress Sarah Bernhardt, and "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Gustave Eiffel invited Thomas Edison to his private apartment at the top. Edison gave Eiffel one of his new phonographs. Edison signed the guestbook, praising Eiffel as a "brave builder." Eiffel used his apartment to study the weather. He also did experiments on how air affects falling objects.
Later Years and Changes
Eiffel had permission for the tower to stand for 20 years. It was supposed to be taken down in 1909. But the tower became very important for new inventions. Especially for radio telegraphy. So, it was allowed to stay. From 1910, it also became part of the International Time Service.
For the 1900 World's Fair, the lifts in the east and west legs were replaced. New lifts went as far as the second level. The lift in the north leg was removed and replaced with stairs. The first and second levels were also changed to make more space for visitors.
On October 19, 1901, Alberto Santos-Dumont flew his airship around the tower. He won a big prize for being the first to fly from St. Cloud to the Eiffel Tower and back in under 30 minutes. In 1910, a priest named Theodor Wulf discovered cosmic rays while measuring energy at the top and bottom of the tower. In 1912, a tailor named Franz Reichelt died trying to show off his parachute design by jumping from the first level.
During World War I in 1914, a radio transmitter in the tower helped the Allies. It blocked German radio messages. This helped the Allies win the First Battle of the Marne. From 1925 to 1934, bright signs for Citroën cars were on three sides of the tower. It was the tallest advertising space in the world. In 1935, the tower was used for early television broadcasts.
In 1930, the tower lost its title as the world's tallest structure. The Chrysler Building in New York City was finished. In 1940, during the German occupation of Paris, the French cut the lift cables. The tower was closed to the public until 1946. German soldiers had to climb the tower to raise their flag. When the Allies were close to Paris in 1944, Hitler ordered the tower to be destroyed. But the German general, Dietrich von Choltitz, disobeyed the order.
A fire damaged the top of the tower in 1956. Repairs took a year. In 1957, the current radio aerial was added. In 1964, the Eiffel Tower was officially named a historical monument. In 1982, the original lifts between the second and third levels were replaced after 97 years. New lifts made the trip much faster.
The tower is a main spot for New Year's Eve and Bastille Day celebrations. For the "Countdown to the Year 2000" on December 31, 1999, flashing lights and searchlights were added. The lights sparkled for five minutes every hour. This sparkling light show continued for 18 months. It was turned on again in 2003.
The tower welcomed its 200 millionth visitor on November 28, 2002. Since 2003, it has had about 7 million visitors each year. In 2004, the first level started hosting a seasonal ice rink. In 2014, a glass floor was added to the first level during a renovation.
Tower Design and Features
Materials and Movement
The Eiffel Tower is made of wrought iron. The iron structure itself weighs 7,300 tonnes. With lifts, shops, and antennas, the total weight is about 10,100 tonnes. The tower was designed to be very strong but also light. If all the iron were melted down, it would only fill the square base to a depth of 6.25 cm (2.46 in).
The top of the tower can move up to 18 cm (7 in) away from the sun. This happens because the metal expands when it gets hot on the side facing the sun.
Wind and Weather
When it was built, many people were surprised by its bold shape. Some thought Eiffel cared only about art, not engineering. But Eiffel and his team were experienced bridge builders. They knew how important it was for the tower to withstand strong winds. Eiffel said that the tower's curved shape, which was based on math, would look strong and beautiful.
Engineers have studied the tower's design for years. They found that all parts were built extra strong to resist wind. The Eiffel Tower sways up to 9 cm (3.5 in) in the wind.
Levels of the Tower
Ground Floor
Each of the tower's four legs has stairs and lifts to the first two floors. Only the lift in the south leg, which goes to the second-floor restaurant, is open to the public.
First Floor
You can reach the first floor by lift or stairs. When it first opened, the first level had three restaurants. After the fair, one restaurant became a theater. Today, there is the Le 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant and other shops.
Second Floor
The second floor is also open to the public by lift or stairs. It has a famous restaurant called Le Jules Verne. This fancy restaurant has its own lift from the south leg. It's named after the famous science-fiction writer Jules Verne.
Third Floor
The third floor is the very top. You can only reach it by lift.
Originally, this floor had labs for experiments. Gustave Eiffel also had a small apartment here for his guests. Now, it's open to the public. It's decorated with old furniture and lifelike statues of Eiffel and his guests.
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From 1937 to 1981, there was a restaurant near the top. It was removed because it was too heavy. Engineers found it was making the tower sag. Today, there is a champagne bar at the top.
Lifts (Elevators)
The lifts in the tower have changed over time. A round trip usually takes about 8 minutes and 50 seconds. The original hydraulic machinery is on display in a small museum at the base of the east and west legs.
Building safe lifts was a big challenge. Lifts to the first level were easier. The legs were wide and straight enough for a straight track. But lifts to the second level were harder because the track couldn't be straight. An American company, Otis, eventually got the contract.
The lifts to the third level were also unique. They used a system where two cars moved at the same time. Passengers had to switch lifts halfway up.
Engraved Names
Gustave Eiffel had the names of 72 French scientists, engineers, and mathematicians carved into the tower. He did this to honor their work. He also wanted to show that the tower was a symbol of science. These names were painted over for a while. But they were restored in 1986–87.
Appearance
The tower is painted in three shades of brown. It's lighter at the top and darker at the bottom. This helps it blend with the Parisian sky. It was first reddish-brown. In 1968, it changed to "Eiffel Tower Brown." For the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the tower is being painted gold.
The four decorative arches at the base are not part of the tower's main structure. They were added to make it look more impressive.
Many movies show the Eiffel Tower from a Parisian window. But in reality, most buildings in Paris are not tall enough to have a clear view.
Maintenance
The tower needs a lot of care. Every seven years, 60 tonnes of paint are used to stop it from rusting. The tower has been fully repainted at least 19 times. Until 2001, lead paint was used. But this stopped due to environmental concerns.
Communications and Broadcasting
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The Eiffel Tower has been used for radio broadcasts since the early 1900s. In 1909, a permanent underground radio center was built. Today, the Eiffel Tower broadcasts radio and digital television signals.
A television antenna was first added in 1957. This made the tower 18.7 m (61 ft) taller. More work in 2000 added another 5.3 m (17 ft). This gives the tower its current height of 324 m (1,063 ft).
Height Over Time
The height of the Eiffel Tower has changed a few times. This is usually because new antennas are added to the top.
| From | To | Height m | Height ft | What was added | Notes |
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| 1889 | 1956 | 312.27 | 1,025 | Flagpole | It was the tallest freestanding structure in the world until 1930. |
| 1957 | 1991 | 320.75 | 1,052 | Antenna | A broadcast antenna was added. |
| 1991 | 1994 | 317.96 | 1,043 | Antenna change | |
| 1994 | 2000 | 318.7 | 1,046 | Antenna change | |
| 2000 | 2022 | 324 | 1,063 | Antenna change | |
| 2022 | Current | 330 | 1,083 | Antenna change | A new digital radio antenna was put on top on March 15, 2022. |
Other Tall Structures
The Eiffel Tower was the world's tallest structure when it was finished in 1889. It held this record until 1929. That's when the Chrysler Building in New York City was completed. The tower also lost its title as the world's tallest tower to the Tokyo Tower in 1958. But it is still the tallest freestanding structure in France.
Visiting the Tower
Getting There
The closest Paris Métro station is Bir-Hakeim. The closest RER train station is Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel. The tower is located where the Quai Branly and the Pont d'Iéna meet.
How Popular is it?
More than 300 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower since 1889. In 2015, there were 6.91 million visitors. It is the most-visited monument in the world that charges an entrance fee. About 25,000 people go up the tower every day. This can mean long lines!
Eiffel Tower Replicas
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The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Many other towers and buildings have been inspired by it. An early example is Blackpool Tower in England. Its mayor was so impressed by the Eiffel Tower that he had a similar one built in his town. It opened in 1894 and is 158.1 m (519 ft) tall. The Tokyo Tower in Japan, built in 1958, was also inspired by the Eiffel Tower.
There are many smaller versions of the tower in the United States. These include a half-size version in Paris Las Vegas, Nevada. There's also one in Paris, Texas. Two 1:3 scale models are at the Kings Island and Kings Dominion amusement parks. There are also several replicas in China and Europe.
In 2011, a TV show guessed that building a full-size replica of the tower today would cost about US$480 million. This is much more than the original cost.
Images for kids
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The Eiffel Tower lit up at night in 2012.
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The tower is a main spot for New Year's Eve and Bastille Day celebrations.
