December 27th 1923: Gustave Eiffel dies
On this day in 1923, the French architect Gustave Eiffel died in Paris, aged 91. Eiffel was a prolific engineer, and had built a solid reputation by 1879, when he took over the project to design the Statue of Liberty. However, Eiffel is most famous for the structure which carries his name: the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution, and was a marvel of French engineering. After two years of building, the Eiffel Tower became the tallest man-made structure in the world - only to be defeated by New York's Chrysler Building in 1930 - and was officially opened on March 31st 1889. As part of the ceremony, Eiffel, along with government officials and members of the press, travelled to the top of the tower by foot. Upon reaching the top, Eiffel hoisted a French flag, which was accompanied with a 25 gun salute. The tower was supposed to be dismantled in 1909, and many Parisians initially considered it an eyesore, but it soon became apparent the tower had both cultural and practical value, as it was used for communications. After the completion of the tower, Eiffel directed his experiments towards aerodynamics and meterology, producing pioneering work in these fields. Eiffel's tower is now the national icon of France, the symbol of Paris, and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.
