Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower began on January 26th, 1887 in Paris, France. The overall time period of construction took only 2 years and 2 months which was considered record time. Some key parts of this project included 18,038 metallic parts, 7,300 tons of wrought iron and around 250-300 workers on site. The 18,038 metallic parts were held together by rivets and a team of 4 men was needed for each rivet assembled. The metal pieces would first be constructed in a factory using bolts but later the bolts would be replaced one by one with the thermally assembled rivets. The tower also consists of multiple elevators that go through all sections of the tower. All of the journeys in these elevators combined has been estimated to equal about two and a half times around the world. After final completion the Eiffel tower stands at a little over 1,000 feet tall. At first the tower was just an attraction but later on in the early 1920’s it became a symbol of modernity and the avant-garde. The tower also commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the French Revolution which was aimed at eliminating dictatorships and ending the divine right of kings to install a democratic system of government. Its image was associated with Paris and as time went on the Eiffel Tower became a worldwide symbol. The tower was supposed to be destroyed 20 years after it was built but it was saved by Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel was able to credit the tower with a scientific purpose which allowed the tower to stay up and why it still stands today