Eiffel Tower Opens
The Eiffel Tower opened to the public for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris
March 31, 1889
An Iron Lady Built for an Exhibition
The Eiffel Tower officially opened on March 31, 1889, as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair held in Paris, France. The fair was organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Designed and built by engineer Gustave Eiffel and his company, the tower was constructed in just over two years using about 18,000 individual iron parts and 2.5 million rivets. When it was completed, it stood 1,083 feet tall and was the tallest man-made structure in the world — a title it held for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building in New York surpassed it in 1930. More than two million people visited the tower during the World's Fair.
From Controversy to Icon
Not everyone loved the Eiffel Tower when it was first built. A group of prominent French artists and intellectuals signed a petition calling it an eyesore — a "monstrous" iron structure that had no place in the elegant cityscape of Paris. Critics called it the "Giant Asparagus" and worse. Gustave Eiffel defended his creation, and the public largely embraced it. The tower was originally supposed to be dismantled after 20 years, but its usefulness as a radio transmission tower saved it. After the World's Fair, it was used to send radio signals, eventually including communications that played a role in World War I military operations.
The Most Visited Monument on Earth
Today, the Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid monument in the world, welcoming millions of tourists each year. It has been repainted 19 times since its construction and is illuminated every night by thousands of light bulbs. The structure requires regular maintenance and has been subtly altered and expanded over the decades. Its image appears on countless souvenirs, artworks, films, and advertisements, making it arguably the single most recognizable structure on the planet. What was once mocked as a temporary eyesore has become the enduring symbol of one of the world's great cities. Use our age calculator to find out exactly how old the tower is today.