Eiffel Tower 101: Facts about the Iron Lady you didn’t know before

Believe it or not, the Eiffel Tower was never meant to last. Built as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, it was scheduled for demolition after 20 years. But Gustave Eiffel had other plans. He equipped it with a radio antenna and wireless telegraph transmitter: today, it still broadcasts radio and television programs.

While the tower was named after Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower's design wasn't his solo act. It was conceived by Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, engineers at Eiffel’s company and collaborated with architect Stephen Sauvestre. Eiffel backed the project financially and later bought the patent rights, ensuring the tower became his legacy.

The Eiffel Tower honors 72 French scientists and engineers, their names etched into the iron on the tower’s base. These engravings were painted over in the 20th century but restored in the 1980s. Look closely on the first floor and you’ll spot names like Foucault, Dumas, and Perrier—a science lover’s scavenger hunt!

Among its many surprises like the Le Figaro newsroom, a radio station and ]a theater, the Eiffel Tower once had a post office—located 187 meters high! It allowed visitors to send postcards with special Eiffel Tower stamps and postmarks. In fact, mailboxes on every level let you send greetings with proof you conquered each stage of the tower!

The Eiffel might be a steel giant, but it transforms into a little kid enjoying the weather when there’s a strong gust! During storms, it sways with the wind, and on sunny days, it leans slightly, much like a sunflower. The tilt, caused by uneven heating, can reach up to 6 inches, and on clear days, the top may trace a small circle around 15 cm wide.

Do you remember how in The Hunger Games, District 13 had been turned into rubble by the Capitol? Paris almost faced a similar fate. In 1944, with the Allies nearing Paris, Hitler ordered the city destroyed, including the Eiffel Tower. Thankfully, General Dietrich von Choltitz—the German commander in charge—refused to carry out the order.