Original photo by Anthony DELANOIX/ Unsplash

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower stands 1,083 feet tall, but it gets a bit of a boost in the summer — as many as 6 inches, to be precise. The seasonal phenomenon is the result of warmer temperatures heating up the metal and causing it to expand, making the landmark just a little more imposing. Originally built as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, la Dame de Fer (“The Iron Lady”) wasn't initially as beloved as she is today. Some 40 artists went so far as to sign an open letter published on the front page of Le Temps protesting the “useless and monstrous” structure that “will without a doubt dishonor Paris.”

The Eiffel Tower is the tallest structure in France.

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Though it spent four decades as the world’s tallest building, “la tour Eiffel” is no longer the tallest structure in France. That title now belongs to the Millau viaduct, which was completed in 2004 and reaches a peak of 1,125 feet — enough to make it the world's tallest bridge.

Suffice to say that the critics were ultimately in the minority, and both the tower and the World’s Fair were massive hits. Even so, the structure wasn’t meant to be permanent: Gustave Eiffel, who designed the tower and lent it his name, was granted a 20-year permit before Paris took over the lease, at which point the monument was supposed to be dismantled. Due to its popularity and usefulness as a radio tower, however, it was allowed to remain a vital part of the City of Light.

Numbers Don't Lie

Numbers Don't Lie

Tons of paint applied to the tower every seven years
60
Yearly electricity (in kilowatt hours) required to power its 20,000 lights
8,800
Steps from the esplanade to the top
1,665
Year the Chrysler Building surpassed it as the world’s tallest building
1930

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In 1899, the Eiffel Tower was painted ______.

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In 1899, the Eiffel Tower was painted yellow.

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The Eiffel Tower used to be the world’s largest advertisement.

From 1925 to 1936, the Eiffel Tower doubled as a billboard. French automobile manufacturer Citroën rented the monument and used 250,000 light bulbs along with 372 miles of electric cable to illuminate the company’s name in 100-foot letters, making it the world’s largest advertisement at the time. The lights were so bright that they were visible from a distance of nearly 20 miles, which was enough for Charles Lindbergh to use the tower as a beacon when he completed the world’s first nonstop solo transatlantic flight in 1927.

Michael Nordine
Staff Writer

Michael Nordine is a writer and editor living in Denver. A native Angeleno, he has two cats and wishes he had more.