Eiffel Tower Design

Here is the number one Parisian myth that will never go away: Gustave Eiffel designed the Eiffel Tower! He certainly conceived it, though he did not exactly design it! In 1884, two of his collaborators walked in his office and showed him a first draft of a metallic tower for the upcoming Universal Exhibition.

Eiffel was not so impressed, though he asked the men to improve the idea. Three months later, Stephen Sauvestre - another collaborator presented the new tower with massive arches connecting the four pillars, a pavilion on the first level and various architectural enhancements. Bingo!

Gustave Eiffel bought the rights to the design and got to work on the engineering aspects of the project. And five years later, voilà! The tower was inaugurated for the 1889 Universal Exhibition which was a big year as it was also the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution! Eiffel passed away on 27 Dec. 1923.