From blueprint to icon: The Eiffel Tower's historic journey starting in 1889

Today, the Eiffel Tower is Paris’s most beloved icon—but did you know Parisians once called it an 'eyesore'? When it was first built, many criticized its radical design, but over time, it won the world's heart. Now, it stands not just as a remarkable feat of engineering but as a global symbol of France.

Let's dive into its fascinating history, the challenges behind its construction, and how it became the defining landmark of Paris.

A complete timeline (1884–present)

• 1884: Gustave Eiffel’s team finalizes plans for a towering iron structure, designed for the 1889 World's Fair.
• 1887: Construction begins on the Champ de Mars—but not without backlash. Many artists and intellectuals protest, calling it an eyesore.
• 1889 (March 31): The Eiffel Tower is completed and inaugurated as the tallest structure in the world at the time. Despite initial criticism, it quickly becomes a focal point of the World's Fair.
• 1900: The tower takes center stage again during the Paris Exposition Universelle, further cementing its place in the city’s skyline.
• 1910s: Once slated for demolition, the tower is saved by its newfound role as a giant radio antenna, proving invaluable for military communications during World War I.
• 1930: The Eiffel Tower loses its title as the world’s tallest structure to New York’s Chrysler Building, but its cultural significance continues to grow.
• 1980s: Extensive restoration efforts ensure the tower remains as breathtaking as ever.
• Present day: Once ridiculed, now revered—over 7 million visitors come each year to see this global icon, a symbol of France and human ingenuity.

Why was the Eiffel Tower built? (1884-1886)

The idea for the Eiffel Tower was born in the late 19th century when France was preparing to host the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The goal? To showcase France’s industrial progress with an architectural masterpiece.

Gustave Eiffel, an acclaimed engineer known for his work on bridges and the internal structure of the Statue of Liberty, led the project. However, the original concept came from his engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, who imagined a 300-meter iron tower—taller than anything ever built at the time.

Not everyone was convinced. Many thought a giant iron structure would be ugly, impractical, and even dangerous. Yet, with persistence, Eiffel and his team refined the design, adding decorative arches and securing government approval. The stage was set for an ambitious construction project that would test the limits of engineering.

Initial public reaction: From eyesore to attraction (1889-1900s)

Although the tower was a technical marvel, its artistic appeal was widely debated. Many saw it as an industrial eyesore, an insult to the city’s classical beauty, calling it "a truly tragic street lamp," "a hole-riddled suppository," and "a ridiculous chimney."

In 1887, 300 prominent artists and writers, including Charles Garnier, Guy de Maupassant, and William Bouguereau, signed the “Protest Against the Tower of Monsieur Eiffel,” published in Le Temps, saying: “We protest... against the erection of this useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower... a ridiculous smokestack crushing Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe under its barbaric bulk.”

Eiffel’s defiance & the public’s shift

Eiffel dismissed the backlash, comparing his tower to the Egyptian pyramids:

“Why would something admirable in Egypt become hideous in Paris?”

Despite the uproar, the tower drew 2 million visitors during the World’s Fair. Some critics relented; others, like Maupassant, reportedly dined in the tower’s restaurant daily—because it was the only place in Paris where he didn’t have to see it.

By 1918, the Eiffel Tower had become a national symbol. Poet Guillaume Apollinaire even shaped a war poem into its silhouette.

Once branded a “monstrosity”, the tower ultimately outlived its critics, transforming into the defining emblem of Paris.

A global icon: The Eiffel Tower today (1960s-Present)

Over the years, the Eiffel Tower evolved from an industrial wonder into a cultural symbol of romance, art, and innovation.

• In 1930, it lost its "tallest structure" title to the Chrysler Building in New York.
• In 1985, a new lighting system was introduced, turning the tower into a glowing spectacle at night.
• In 1991, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Its silhouette has been replicated in cities from Las Vegas to Tokyo, and it has played a starring role in countless films, books, and artistic works, cementing its place in popular culture.
• Today, over 7 million visitors climb the tower annually, making it the most visited paid monument in the world.

Gustave Eiffel once said, "I ought to be jealous of the tower. It is much more famous than I am." And indeed, over 130 years later, his creation remains one of the most enduring and beloved structures ever built.