It’s hard to think of Paris without immediately thinking of the Eiffel Tower. Originally built in 1889, the iconic structure has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. It has become synonymous with Paris itself and continues to draw tourists from all over the world to the city. Built out of wrought iron and comprised of complex latticework, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest man-made structure in the entire world for a time, before it was finally topped by the construction of the Chrysler building in New York.

What most people might not know, though, is that the Eiffel Tower was not built to be a permanent structure. In fact, not only was the tower meant to only be a temporary creation, but it was initially criticized by the city’s then-great artists and architects, who passionately and publicly opposed the construction of it. But why was the Eiffel Tower built in the first place, and why wasn’t it meant to be permanent?

Why the Eiffel Tower was originally built

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