The Eiffel Tower: 'La Tour Eiffel'

The Eiffel Tower (La Tour Eiffel) “Iron Lady” of sensual beauty in the “City of Light:” (La Dame De Fer: Bienvenue à Paris, France!) Built to be the world’s tallest structure at 300 meters As the gateway entrance to the 1889 “Exposition Universelle,” Which touted accomplishments in the age of industrialization, And to honour the “Storming of the Bastille” centennial, Which began the French Revolution, “Vive la France!” Reaching upwards of wrought iron riveted together, Engineered as a lattice figuration erected tower panorama Overlooking “Arc de Triomphe” on “Avenue des Champs-Élysées,” Of feminine attributes in architectural design conception in “Champs de Mars” to overwhelming reception of acceptance. Climbed by Gustave Eiffel to wave the French flag (Agiter drapeau—bleu-blanc-rouge) accompanied by a 25-gun salute. *** Notes: 1) Eiffel Tower (nicknamed the Iron Lady of France): The Eiffel Tower was built in two years (January 28, 1887, to March 15, 1889) for the 1889 World’s Fair held in Paris, France. The grand opening was on March 31, 1889. The tower is a lattice structure that stands at 1,063 feet, or 324 meters, high, including the antenna, and is constructed of 18,038 pieces of steel joined together using 2.5 million rivets. 2) City of Light (La Ville-Lumière): Gas lights were first demonstrated in Paris in 1800, and by 1857, all the Grande Boulevards were lit with town gas or manufactured gas (a product derived from the heating of coal). A French writer wrote about it and referred to how delighted and charmed Parisians were with the gas lighting on the boulevards and nicknamed Paris the “City of Light.” Others say Paris got its nickname in 1667, when lanterns and candles were used to illuminate streets at night in order to reduce crime by revealing the hiding places of criminals escaping from the police. And still others believe Paris’s nickname refers to its leading role during the Age of Enlightenment (1685–1815), an era of intellectual and philosophical advancement. 3) Exposition Universelle: World’s Fair. 4) The Bastille: The Bastille was a French fortification built in Paris, France, that was converted to a political prison to symbolize the monarchy’s dictatorial rule. On July 14, 1789, “The Bastille” was attacked and overtaken by a Parisian mob to start the French Revolution that lasted from 1789 until 1799. 5) Vive la France: "Hurray for France" or "Long live France." 6) Arc de Triomphe (Triumphal Arch): The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) in 1806 to the glory of the French Army. It was completed in 1836, at the end of Avenue des Champs-Élysées. 7) Avenue des Champs-Élysées (heavenly street on Earth): In Greek mythology, the Elysian Fields (aka Elysium) was a paradise to which fallen heroes on whom the gods bestowed immortality were sent. Originally, the area around Avenue des Champs-Élysées was farmland, and then in 1667, it was converted into public gardens as an extension of the Tuileries Garden with a boulevard called the Grand Promenade (a place where Parisians met, celebrated, strolled, and relaxed), which at that time was located on the outskirts of Paris, France. In 1709, the name of the boulevard was changed to Avenue des Champs-Élysées. 8) Champs de Mars (Fields of Mars): Champs de Mars is a large public park (greenspace) in Paris, France. 9) Gustave Eiffel: Gustave Eiffel (1832–1923) was a French engineer whose company designed and built the Eiffel Tower. It is the tallest structure in Paris and, for forty years, was the tallest structure in the world. 10) French flag (Drapeau français): The French flag consists of three coloured vertical bands, blue, white, and red, respectively, and in English is known as the “Tricolour.” The French call their flag “les couleurs.” (Agiter drapeau bleu-blanc-rouge; waving blue, white, and red flag.)