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History

The Iron Lady

by Margaret Etherton

Six million people climb to the summit of this very famous monument every year. That's 16,500 people each day! For many years, it was the tallest man-made structure in the whole world and it is still the highest point in all of Paris. When it was built it was meant to be temporary, but somehow it has survived for over one hundred years! A visit to Paris would not be complete without a climb or a ride to the top of this amazing tower. It is the Eiffel Tower, but some call it the Iron Lady.

In 1887, the French government planned an international exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution in Paris. An engineering company, managed by Gustave Eiffel, won the competition to design a monument to be at the center of the celebrations. This company was well-known for building the framework of the Statue of Liberty in New York. The monument they designed for the competition was an open lattice iron tower, 324 meters tall, with three viewing levels for the public to look down on Paris. Its true French name is La Tour Eiffel.

Gustave Eiffel's name became famous, but he did not actually do the first drawing! Maurice Koechlin, an engineer who worked for Eiffel, made the first rough sketch. Eiffel said it looked too much like a bridge pylon, so he altered it slightly to look more attractive. Then a team of engineers planned its construction, while Eiffel put up the money and organized the building. Two years, two months and five days later, the amazing tower was completed.

Unfortunately, not everyone in Paris was happy about it. Some called it a giant streetlamp and wanted it pulled down. But, in spite of some protests, the Eiffel Tower remained because it was so strong.

From 1889 onwards, Gustave Eiffel used the tower for experiments in meteorology, aerodynamics, and radio transmission. An antenna was placed at the top for telegraphing. This was the beginning of communication using the latest technology. Finally when radio and television were perfected, the tower supported antennas for them as well.

Kings and queens, famous people, and children have trekked to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Over the years many people have used it for stunts, like the man who rode a bicycle down it. It has even been climbed by an elephant. Parachutists have jumped off the top too!

The climb to the top lookout on the Eiffel Tower is 1,652 steps. Nowadays people can avoid the problem of getting cramps in their legs. They can take an elevator to reach the summit! If you do walk up, it is well worth the hike---at the top on a clear day you can see for 30 kilometers (19 miles) in all directions.

For 42 years the Eiffel Tower was the tallest tower in the world, from 1889 until the completion of the Empire State Building in 1931. Today it is only about the fourteenth highest tower in the world, but it is still more than a just a famous landmark. People the world over recognize it as a symbol of France.

Eiffel used triangles in his structure to make his building strong. The technology was so advanced it changed the way engineers used metal arches forever after. Perhaps the Iron Lady will survive forever. What do you think?

Bibliography

Books:

Tillier, Allan. Eyewitness Guide to Paris. London: Dorley Kindersly Publishers, 2000.

Barthes, Roland and Howard, Richard, trans. The Eiffel Tower and Other Mythologies. California: University of California Press, 1997.

Internet Sources:

http://www.ambafrance-au.org/kids/pages/eiffel.htm

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk

http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Eiffel/

http://www.offbeattravel.com/trivia.html

http://www.etrav.com/pathways/html/eiffeltower.asp

Margaret Etherton is a teacher, tutor and writer. She has taught a range of subjects, such as reading, writing, mathematics and computers to people of all ages - from small kids to seniors. Her publishing credits include over twenty fiction and non-fiction articles for Australian School Magazines. Many of her stories have been created about animals from an interesting viewpoint or with a twist in the telling. Margaret lives close to the beach in Sydney with her husband, her four children and her cat, Mushka.

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