31/03/2026
Every March 31, the Eiffel Tower marks the day it officially opened in 1889. It took just over two years to build and was created as the centerpiece of the Exposition Universelle. The plan was simple at the time, build it, impress the crowds, then take it down 20 years later.
That last part is what most people miss. The tower we all recognize today was never meant to stick around. It faced heavy criticism during construction, and even after opening, many Parisians weren’t convinced it belonged in the skyline.
What changed everything was function. By the early 1900s, it proved useful for radio transmission, which gave it a real purpose beyond tourism. That practical value is what saved it from being dismantled, not public opinion.
So this anniversary is not just about a famous landmark. It is about how something temporary turned into one of the most recognized structures in the world. If you have been, did it feel different seeing it up close or from a distance?
📍 Paris / 7th arrondissement, Île de France