Final answer:
The Eiffel Tower was designed and built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris. It involved detailed planning, over 5,000 drawings, and the assembly of 18,000 pieces by more than 230 workers. Despite initial criticisms, the tower's innovative design and engineering ultimately symbolized Paris's prosperity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Eiffel Tower was designed and built by Gustave Eiffel, a renowned French engineer known for his pioneering work in metal structures. Appointed to create a landmark for the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris, Eiffel and his team produced over 5,000 drawings, and more than 230 workers collaborated to assemble the 18,000 pieces of the tower on-site. Despite facing intense criticism from some prominent artists who feared it would overshadow Paris's historic monuments, Eiffel defended his creation by drawing parallels to the grandeur of the pyramids. He highlighted the innovative use of iron, which proved to be resistant to wind forces – a property Eiffel found to be more reliable than wood or stone. The construction effort involved meticulous planning and labor, with the foundations alone being dug by hand for the tower's four legs. When it was completed, the Eiffel Tower stood at 300 meters tall, featuring wrought iron and weighing over 7,000 tons, thereby symbolizing Paris's increasing prosperity during the Industrial Revolution.