Here’s some background information about the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Facts:
Almost 7 million people visit the Eiffel Tower annually.
Almost 250 million visitors have been to the tower since its opening.
Designer Gustave Eiffel had a small apartment cloistered away in the upper reaches of the tower. In 2016, a second (temporary) apartment was built inside the tower by a vacation rental company, HomeAway. The firm held a contest, selecting four winners to spend one night in the apartment each, with up to five guests.
The names of 72 French scientists are listed on the four sides of the tower.
The premises are under video surveillance.
Security checks are performed prior to entry and visitors are required to disclose the contents of their bags.
There is a police station located at the foot of the south pillar.
Timeline:
Construction: 1887-1889 (2 years, 2 months and 5 days).
1889 – The tower opens during the Universal Exposition, a fair celebrating the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. It is the tallest structure in the world until 1930, when the Chrysler Building opens in New York.
1981-1982 – Two phases of renovations are completed, with new facilities including a conference room, post office and screening room.
1985 – An illumination system called Golden Lighting is unveiled, with 336 projectors and yellow-orange lamps.
December 31, 1999 – A sparkling light show debuts to mark the new millennium. The lights glimmer nightly for five minutes every hour on the hour until 1 a.m. Originally planned as a temporary display, the light show becomes a permanent fixture by popular demand.
October 2014 – A glass walkway opens with views of the street 187 feet below.
November 2015 – The tower is closed for two days following the terror attacks in Paris. When it reopens, it is lit up with the colors of the French flag.
February 9, 2017 – It is announced that two glass walls will be erected around the base of the Eiffel Tower. These walls will provide increased security and be more visually appealing than the current metal fencing.
September 18, 2017 – Construction begins on the 3 meters high glass fence around the North-South viewpoint of the tower. The glass is 65 millimeters thick, resistant to bullets and extra clear. Construction is expected to be completed by July 2018.
Construction:
Original designers: Gustave Eiffel, Maurice Koechlin, Emile Nouguier, Stephen Sauvestre.
50 engineers and designers produced 5,300 workshop designs.
The tower was constructed with some 18,038 individual metallic pieces.
Characteristics:
Height: 324 meters (1,062 feet)
Metal framework weight: 7,300 tons of iron.
Total weight: 10,100 tons
The Tower is repainted every 7 years, with 60 metric tons of paint.
There are 1,665 steps to the top of the tower.