Photos of the Construction of the Eiffel Tower (1887-1889)

The Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, was built for the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle. But the journey to completing this iron giant was anything but simple. Spanning over two years, the construction of the Eiffel Tower was a remarkable feat of engineering and design, and its story is just as fascinating as the tower itself.

Starting on April 20, 1887, the foundations of the tower were laid. This marked the beginning of a massive undertaking, requiring 18,038 individual iron pieces and a staggering 2.5 million rivets to hold them together. Despite the scale of the project, Gustave Eiffel, the mastermind behind the tower, managed to complete the structure in just over two years. (Photo by © Corbis)

By July 18, 1887, the first leg of the tower emerged from the ground. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive)

Soon, all four legs began to take shape, standing proudly as a symbol of industrial prowess.

Eiffel Tower in Early Construction Stages (Photo by Corbis)

By January 14, 1888, the structure had made significant progress, with the iron framework beginning to form the familiar shape we know today. (Photo by © Corbis)

As the year 1888 rolled around, curiosity grew. Crowds gathered to watch the tower rise higher and higher into the Parisian skyline. (Photo by Henri Roger/Roger Viollet)

The construction of the Eiffel Tower attracted attention from all corners of the world. (Photo by Roger Viollet)

As July 1888 came to a close, the tower was nearing its final height, and the excitement in Paris was palpable. The tower was not just a marvel of engineering; it was a statement of France’s industrial strength and artistic innovation. (Photo by Henri Roger/Roger Viollet)

(Photo by Universal History Archive/UIG)

Finally, on March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower was inaugurated, just in time for the opening of the Paris Exposition Universelle. The tower stood as a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and quickly became a symbol of Paris itself. (Photo by ND/Roger Viollet)

Mona

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