Why was the Eiffel Tower built?


Quick Answer

The Eiffel Tower was built to serve as a gateway into the World's Fair held in Paris in 1889. Initially only built as a temporary structure, meant to last less than 20 years, it has since become one of the world's architectural wonders. It is rigorously maintained for safety and to preserve the integrity of the structure.

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Why was the Eiffel Tower built?
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Full Answer

To mark the 100th year of the World's Fair, Paris wanted to create a unique and astounding structure. They accepted ideas from more than 100 artists. Maurice Koechlin, who worked for Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel's company, presented the winning design of an iron structure, which is today known as the Eiffel Tower.

While there was initially a great deal of skepticism around the design and functionality of the Eiffel Tower, it has become a popular tourist attraction. In fact, it attracts more visitors than any other paid tourist attraction in the world.

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