January 28th 1887 was an auspicious day for Gustave Eiffel, and for Paris as a whole, for it was the day that construction began on what was to become one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. However, Eiffel’s great iron pylon was never meant to endure for over a century; the Iron Lady, as it is fondly referred to, was built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair, commemorating the French Revolution, and was supposed to be dismantled 20 years later. 128 years on, the monument is more popular than ever. With improvements being made all the time, last year saw a glass viewing platform added to further thrill – and, some may say, terrify – visitors to the City of Light. Interestingly, the glass platform took roughly the same amount of time to build as the entire tower herself!
We thought it would be fun to show you the various stages of construction – are you ready for a journey back in time?
The Champ de Mars in 1887, prior to the start of construction of the Eiffel Tower. The Palais du Trocadéro (with the two towers) is on the right-hand side of this image.
Maurice Koechlin’s original pylon design of 1884.
March 1887 – Looking more like an Egyptian archaeological dig than an engineering project, the foundations for the Eiffel Tower begin.
April 1887: At the beginning of the month, the foundations for the legs start to go in.
April 8th, 1887: Laying the foundations
April 17th, 1887: Building more casings.
April 1887: Inspecting the progress so far.
April 20th, 1887: Building the foundations – Les Invalides in the distance.
April 25th, 1887: Foundations for the first leg are completed.
July 18th 1887: Work begins on the legs.
August, 1887:Â Gustav Eiffel inspects the work on the legs.
August 30th, 1887: Work on all four legs is progressing. Palais du Trocadéro in the background.
December 7th 1887: All four legs have almost reached completion, and scaffolding begins to be erected in order to support the first level.
January 7th, 1888: All four legs are now complete.
January 14th, 1888: Scaffolding for the first level.
January 14th, 1888: Worker’s-eye view of the scaffolding for the first level.
January 14th, 1888: Worker’s-eye view of the scaffolding for the first level.
January 1888: Work on one of the arc beams.
January 1888
January 1888
March 24th, 1888: Construction of the first level continues.
May 15th, 1888: Starting to take shape Рbuilding the pillars above the first level. Palais du Trocad̩ro in the background.
May 15th, 1888
June 16th, 1888: The first level – Gustave Eiffel is in the center.
July 4, 1888: A gathering of the Press on the first level, Gustave Eiffel is in the center.
July 1888
July 1888: View of the tower with two levels now, from the Pont d’Iéna.
July 1888
August 1888: As seen from the Palais du Trocadéro.
August 21st, 1888: Work on the second level continues. The lower scaffolding has been removed, affording a perfect view of the Palais du Trocadéro.
September 11th, 1888:
September 19th, 1888: Looking up toward the first level. The buildings under construction in the background are for the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair), due to open in 1889.
November 28th, 1888: Looking more like the Iron Lady we all know and love!
December 16th, 1888: Work begins on the top level.
December 26th, 1888
1889: Lunchtime for the workers.
March 15th, 1889: Construction of the cupola begins.
March 22nd, 1889: Almost there.
End of March 1889: The Iron Lady is complete!
Gustave Eiffel on the left, and visitors on the right, pay a site visit.
Gustave Eiffel (bottom) proudly poses at the top of his tower.
Progression of construction.
As an homage to seventy-two French scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, Gustave Eiffel had their names of engraved on an external panel around the first level.
Today: The Iron Lady in all her glory!
Construction of the Eiffel Tower was completed at the end of March 1889, and it was opened to the public on May 6th the same year. To date, around 275 million people have visited Eiffel’s most famous European creation.