It is hard to believe today, but Paris originally hated the tower. Artists called it a tragic street lamp, and the city planned to tear it down in 1909 because the Eiffel Tower Paris France was only supposed to be a temporary exhibit.
Gustave Eiffel fought hard to save his creation by proving it had scientific utility. He installed a massive radio antenna at the top which eventually intercepted enemy messages during World War I. These signals gave the French army the intelligence they needed to win a crucial battle.
The tower transformed from a hated eyesore into a national hero almost overnight. You are standing on a structure that survived purely because of its utility when you join a Paris Eiffel Tower tour. Our guides love explaining how close we came to losing the skyline we love today.
