Profession: Engineer and Architect
Why Famous: Gustave Eiffel was a French civil engineer and architect, best remembered for designing and building the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The Eiffel Tower was the symbol of the Exposition Universelle or World Fair held in Paris in 1889, 100 years after the storming of the Basille. The Tower itself served as the gateway to the Exposition. The tower took 2 years to build and opened 2 months before the exposition.
Eiffel was also responsible for designing the iron structure for the Stature of Liberty. His many other works included bridges, railways stations and viaducts.
In later life Eiffel contributed significant work to the developing field of aerodynamics.
Born: December 15, 1832
Birthplace: Dijon, France
Star Sign: Sagittarius
Died: December 27, 1923 (aged 91)
Articles and Photos
The Tower that Twice Defied Hitler
The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of France and twice managed to upstage Adolf Hitler. The man who built it, Gustave Eiffel was born on this day.
December 15, 1832Eiffel Tower Opens
The Eiffel Tower on opening day in Paris
March 31, 1889
Historical Events
- 1887-01-28 Work begins on the Eiffel Tower in Paris
- 1889-03-31 Eiffel Tower officially opens in Paris. Built for the Exposition Universelle, at 300m high it retains the record for the tallest man made structure for 41 years.
- 1889-05-06 Exposition Universelle (World's Fair) in Paris opens with the recently completed Eiffel Tower serving as the entrance arch
- 1993-08-30 150,000,000th visitor to Eiffel Tower
Albert Kahn
Frederick Law Olmsted
Michael Graves
Dennis Gabor
Frederick Winslow Taylor
Grenville M. Dodge