In Paris France the Day Romance Got an Address
One of my favorite places on the planet, Paris France! I’m sure that comes as no secret to some, but I adore the culture, food, the respect and preservation of historical places and the French people. Politics aside, like many places, I don’t agree with everyone or everything but Paris is at the top of my list of one of the most beautiful places I’ve traveled. Today is an important day, which is why I bring this up. It was this date in history in March 31,1889, the Eiffel Tour opened. Though I have many I wanted to share a some of images, I personally took and share them with you.
In 1889, to honor of the centenary of the French Revolution, the French government planned an international exposition and announced a design competition for a monument to be built on the Champ-de-Mars in central Paris. Out of more than 100 designs submitted, the Centennial Committee chose Eiffel’s plan of an open-lattice wrought-iron tower that would reach almost 1,000 feet above Paris and be the world’s tallest man-made structure. Eiffel, a noted bridge builder, was a master of metal construction and designed the framework of the Statue of Liberty that had recently been erected in New York Harbor.
Eiffel’s tower was greeted with skepticism from critics who argued that it would be structurally unsound, and indignation from others who thought it would be an eyesore in the heart of Paris. Unperturbed, Eiffel completed his great tower under budget in just two years. Only one worker lost his life during construction, which at the time was a remarkably low casualty number for a project of that magnitude. The light, airy structure was by all accounts a technological wonder and within a few decades came to be regarded as an architectural masterpiece.
The Eiffel Tower is 984 feet tall and consists of an iron framework supported on four masonry piers, from which rise four columns that unite to form a single vertical tower. Platforms, each with an observation deck, are at three levels. Elevators ascend the piers on a curve, and Eiffel contracted the Otis Elevator Company of the United States to design the tower’s famous glass-cage elevators.
The elevators were not completed by March 31, 1889, however, so Gustave Eiffel ascended the tower’s stairs with a few hardy companions and raised an enormous French tricolor on the structure’s flagpole. Fireworks were then set off from the second platform. Eiffel and his party descended, and the architect addressed the guests and about 200 workers. In early May, the Paris International Exposition opened, and the tower served as the entrance gateway to the giant fair.
The Eiffel Tower remained the world’s tallest man-made structure until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York in 1930. Incredibly, the Eiffel Tower was almost demolished when the International Exposition’s 20-year lease on the land expired in 1909, but its value as an antenna for radio transmission saved it. It remains largely unchanged today and is one of the world’s premier tourist attractions. If you have never been and seen this amazing structure in person, you must, pictures just don’t do it justice.
About Jeff McClintock
Jeff McClintock is an award winning Real Estate Architectural, Travel and Landscape photographer. His images first started appearing in magazines and publications back in 1988. Over the years his images have appeared in Sierra Club, National Géographique, Best of Photography, Country Magazine, as well as Travel and Visitor Bureau’s in Québec, Canada.
Today Jeff still accepts both local and international assignments in the United States, Canada and Western Europe as traveling still remains a passion and a big part of his photography. Based in Denver, Colorado, Jeff focuses his day to day energy providing high quality real estate images and virtual tours of homes for sale, on properties located in Denver, Co, Breckenridge, and Vail mountain valley communities. His services for residential photography extend to Aspen and Telluride Colorado as well. Jeff routinely provides high quality still image photos to realtors, custom builders, architects, hotels, resorts, interior designers and home staging experts to assist them in the personal marketing of their business and services. He also shoots commercial images for business looking to expand thier operations or just need updates in support of their marketing materials on a company website.”