The Eiffel Tower was an eyesore … until it became indispensable

Most people think of the Eiffel Tower as an international icon, the symbol of France, and maybe sometimes, even King’s Dominion amusement park.

But that wasn’t always the case. When the tower was being built (1887) for the Paris Centennial Exhibition in 1889, many thought it was an eyesore. It was originally only supposed to stand for 20 years.

A group of writers (of course) and artists started complaining and referred to the Tower as “the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower.” One critic called it “a lamp post stuck in the belly of Paris” and another referred to it as “a giant ungainly skeleton.”

Despite the fact that visitors loved it and flocked to it — two million people in 1889 — many did not like it and city officials were determined to take it down as soon as the 20 years were up.

And then the radio was invented. At nearly 1,000 feet, the Tower was too valuable as an antenna, able to broadcast to Europe and North Africa. The government decided they’d have to keep it.

Gustav Eiffel put the critics aside, saying when construction started, “For my part I believe that the Tower will possess its own beauty. Are we to believe that because one is an engineer, one is not preoccupied by beauty in one’s constructions, or that one does not seek to create elegance as well as solidity and durability?”

*Eiffel had an office on the top floor, which can be viewed from outside, but not entered.

Sources:

The Eiffel Tower Official Website

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