The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the Universal Exhibition, as a celebration of the centennial of the French Revolution. Construction took place from January 1887 to March 1889.
The Eiffel Tower is 324 meters or 985 feet tall, including the antenna at its top. This made it the World's tallest building until 1930.
The Eiffel Tower has been painted in several different colors during its lifetime, but today it is painted in a color called "Eiffel Tower Beige", with a lighter shade used for each of the sections so the lightest shade is on the top level.
The Eiffel Tower came close to being torn down in 1909, but was saved because of its usefulness as an antenna location first for the relatively new radiotelegraphy, then radio and these days tv transmission.
It is possible to go from the base of the Eiffel Tower to its top by climbing stairs. You'll have to climb 347 steps to get to the first level, a tougher 674 steps to get to the second level and then finish with an aweinspiring 1710 steps to get to the top platform. However, this is not possible for visitors - they have to take an elevator from the second level to the top platform, so you have a maximum of 1,021 steps to conquer.
The Eiffel Tower is on the West Bank of the Seine, South of the Trocadero, and on the Northern side of the Parc du Champ de Mars. The park used to be a parade ground for the military school at the South end of the park. Today it is a recreational area which is one of the reasons why the 7th. arondissement is so popular - and expensive.
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