Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower was built to commemorate the Great Exposition held in Paris in 1889. It was named after the man named after the man who built it, Gustav Eiffel. Today it has many uses. Sometimes, it is used to display advertizing. It also serves as a beacon for planes and as a radio and television transmitter. The wonderful view of Paris from the top makes it a popular tourist spot. Originally the Eiffel Tower was just 984 feet (300 meters) high, but radio and television transmitting antennas brought it to 1,053 feet (321 meters). The tower was completed in the amazingly short time of just seventeen (17) months. When people think of Paris today, they invariably think of the Eiffel Tower. It is considered the very symbol of Paris, France. But when the tower was new in 1889 it was widely criticized. Many people felt that it was too modern for the traditional skyline of Paris.