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.
Another remarkable part of the monument’s story is Gustave Eiffel’s Secret Apartment, a hidden space near the summit where the tower’s creator once welcomed famous guests.
