Parisian landmark built for the Centennial Exposition of 1889.
Conceived by the bridge engineer Gustave Eiffel (18321923), the 984-ft (300-m) tower of open-lattice wrought iron was a technological masterpiece. Making use of advanced knowledge of the behavior of metal arch and truss forms under loading, the structure presaged a revolution in civil engineering and architectural design. The tower was the world's tallest building until completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris, designed by Gustave Eiffel, 188789.
Giraudon/Art Resource, New York