Final answer:
The Eiffel Tower was intended to be built in Paris from the beginning, as part of the 1889 Exposition Universelle. It faced criticism but was celebrated as a feat of engineering and a symbol of industrial progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Eiffel Tower, an iconic landmark, was always intended to be built in Paris, the primate city of France. Conceived as the centerpiece for the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World's Fair) to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution, the tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel, a prominent French engineer. Within Paris, the site chosen was on the Champ de Mars near the Seine River, providing a central and visible location.
Leading up to its construction, Eiffel and his team created over 5,000 drawings and employed a large workforce to hand-make the parts and assemble the 18,000 pieces on site. Eiffel's vision was that his tower would echo the aesthetic impact of ancient architectural marvels like the Egyptian pyramids. Despite criticism from some of the era's leading artists and intellectuals, who feared it would overshadow Paris's historical monuments, the Eiffel Tower was completed and stood as a testament to industrial progress and engineering prowess.