The Eiffel Tower: From Controversy to Icon – The Opening That Changed Paris Forever
At the heart of Paris, towering over the skyline with its iron lattice structure, stands the Eiffel Tower—an architectural marvel recognised worldwide. Today, it’s a symbol of France, an unmistakable icon gracing postcards, souvenirs, and the dreams of travellers from every corner of the globe. But imagine for a moment that this beloved monument was once despised by many and considered a "monstrous construction." It was met with fierce opposition when it was first proposed and even during its construction. How did this controversial structure become one of the most revered landmarks in history?
Read on to discover the fascinating story behind the tower’s conception, the challenges it faced, and its grand opening, which forever altered Paris’ skyline and identity.
The Birth of an Idea
The Eiffel Tower was born out of ambition and competition. France, at the end of the 19th century, was determined to assert its engineering prowess to the world. The occasion was the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair), marking the centenary of the French Revolution. The government wanted something spectacular to showcase France’s advancement in science, engineering, and culture.
To achieve this, a competition was held, calling for proposals for an iconic monument that would sit in the heart of Paris. Among the hundreds of submissions, the winning design came from an engineer named Gustave Eiffel—though his name is forever associated with the tower, it was not entirely his own concept.
Eiffel’s company was commissioned to design the structure, but much of the work was carried out by his two key engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, along with architect Stephen Sauvestre, who proposed the decorative arches and glass pavilion. Together, they envisioned a structure unlike anything that had ever been built before—a tower of iron soaring 300 metres into the sky.
A Monumental Eiffel Tower Controversy
While today we celebrate the Eiffel Tower as a symbol of Parisian elegance and French innovation, its inception was anything but universally embraced. From the moment Eiffel’s design won, a wave of criticism engulfed the project. Many Parisians, particularly artists and intellectuals, were aghast at the idea of a massive iron structure dominating the skyline. They felt it would ruin the romantic aesthetic of the city.
A famous letter, published in Le Temps newspaper in February 1887, voiced these sentiments under the title "Protest Against the Tower of Mr Eiffel." Signed by some of the most prominent figures in the arts and literature, including Guy de Maupassant, Charles Gounod, and Alexandre Dumas Jr., it called the structure an eyesore:
"We, writers, painters, sculptors, architects, passionate devotees of the hitherto untouched beauty of Paris, protest with all our might, with all our indignation, in the name of slighted French taste, against the erection… of this useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower."
The public debate was heated, with critics describing the tower as a "barbarous mass" and an "iron chimney." Many feared it would overshadow the classical beauty of landmarks like the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe.
Yet, despite the resistance, Eiffel remained steadfast. He understood that his tower would be a marvel of modern engineering and was confident it would become a symbol of France’s forward-thinking spirit. To appease the sceptics, Eiffel made a brilliant move: he highlighted the scientific value of the tower, pointing out how it could be used for meteorological and astronomical observations, as well as radio transmission, giving the structure a purpose beyond aesthetics.
The Engineering Marvel
Constructing the Eiffel Tower was no small feat. It was designed to be built from wrought iron, an affordable and relatively lightweight material compared to stone, allowing for the unprecedented height Eiffel envisioned. But such a towering structure had never been attempted before. Would it be safe? Would it hold under its own weight? Would it withstand the elements?
Eiffel and his team had to tackle these questions one by one, employing cutting-edge engineering techniques. The tower’s structure is based on a principle of gradual weight reduction as the height increases. The lower levels carry the bulk of the tower’s weight, with diagonal iron girders providing a framework that could distribute the load effectively and evenly.
Work on the tower began on 28 January 1887, with about 300 workers involved in assembling over 18,000 parts. Eiffel’s team worked methodically, starting with the base, which required exacting precision to ensure that the legs were perfectly aligned. Any mistake would have made the whole tower unstable.
Given the era in which it was built, the tower’s construction was remarkably fast. By March 1889, the structure was complete, two months ahead of the opening of the Exposition Universelle. At 300 metres tall, it became the tallest man-made structure in the world—a title it held until 1930 when the Chrysler Building in New York surpassed it.
The Grand Opening: March 31, 1889
The grand opening of the Eiffel Tower was a spectacle. On 31 March 1889, Gustave Eiffel ascended the tower himself, climbing the 1,710 steps to plant the French flag at its summit. Accompanied by several dignitaries and reporters, Eiffel proudly surveyed the city of Paris from this unprecedented vantage point.
The tower was not yet open to the public, but it became the centrepiece of the Exposition Universelle, which opened to the public two months later on 6 May 1889. The tower drew almost two million visitors during the World’s Fair, proving its immediate popularity despite earlier opposition.
While initially intended as a temporary structure, to be dismantled after 20 years, Eiffel had the foresight to propose scientific uses for the tower, which ensured its survival. Over the years, the tower became a laboratory for experiments in radio transmission and other technological innovations. Its utility, combined with its growing popularity, ensured that it would remain a permanent fixture on the Paris skyline.
From Criticism to Icon
Though many of the tower’s early detractors maintained their opposition long after it was completed, the public soon began to embrace it. Parisians who initially scorned the "iron monster" gradually came to appreciate its modernity, its elegance, and the remarkable engineering feat it represented.
By the early 20th century, the Eiffel Tower had established itself as an iconic part of Paris, appearing in countless artworks, poems, and photographs. Artists like Robert Delaunay and Marc Chagall were inspired by its geometric form and innovative spirit. Writers and poets came to see it as a symbol of modernity and the indomitable French spirit.
Perhaps most famously, the writer Guy de Maupassant—who had once signed the protest letter against the tower—would later be seen dining regularly in the restaurant at the base of the tower. When asked why he frequented a place he claimed to detest, he quipped, "It’s the only place in Paris where I can’t see it."
This shift in perception highlights the complex relationship between art, architecture, and time. What was once considered ugly and intrusive had, in a few short years, become something beloved and cherished.
The Tower in War and Peace
As the 20th century unfolded, the Eiffel Tower found itself intertwined with key moments in history. During World War I, it played a pivotal role in intercepting enemy communications, thanks to its use as a radio transmitter. In World War II, when Nazi forces occupied Paris, Adolf Hitler famously ordered the tower to be demolished, but the order was never carried out. Legend has it that the French cut the lift cables, forcing the Nazis to climb the stairs if they wanted to reach the top.
Post-war Paris saw the Eiffel Tower rise to even greater prominence as tourism boomed. It became the must-see attraction for visitors from around the world, a status it has held ever since. In 1986, the tower underwent a major restoration project to refurbish and preserve it for future generations. Today, over 7 million visitors ascend its heights annually, cementing its place as the most-visited paid monument in the world.
A Symbol of Innovation
More than 130 years after its opening, the Eiffel Tower remains not just an architectural marvel, but a testament to the forward-thinking spirit of the late 19th century. Its story is one of perseverance, ambition, and an unwavering belief in the power of innovation.
What makes the Eiffel Tower so special, beyond its sheer size and elegance, is that it represents more than just a structure. It symbolises a moment in history when the world was on the cusp of modernity—a time when science, engineering, and artistry were coming together to redefine what was possible. Gustave Eiffel, Maurice Koechlin, and Émile Nouguier didn’t just design a tower—they changed the way the world thought about architecture.
In the years since its completion, the Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of France itself—a beacon of liberty, creativity, and resilience. It has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the joys of celebration, and the trials of war. Through it all, the tower has remained steadfast, a silent observer of history, always looking to the future.
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