Eiffel Tower Day
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most well-known monuments in the world. You can show a picture of it to just about anyone on any continent, and they would immediately recognize it. It’s a monument that has been around for over 124 years, stands at approximately 1,063 feet, and overlooks the city of Paris.
It’s not only a symbol of France but is also one of the most well-regarded architectural wonders of the world. That’s probably why a whole holiday has been created to celebrate it and to acknowledge its importance to Western civilization. This holiday is known as Eiffel Tower Day, and it’s observed annually on March 31st.
The History of Eiffel Tower Day
The plan to build the Eiffel Tower began as part of the preparations for the 1889 World’s Fair. It was a competition to study the possibility of erecting an iron tower with a square base, 300 meters tall and 125 meters across, on the Champ-de-Mars.
From over 100 different entries, the project of Gustave Eiffel, Maurice Koechlin, Emile Nouguier, and Stephen Sauvestre was accepted. The assembly of the supports began on July 1, 1887, and was completed 22 months later.
All of the metal pieces of the tower were assembled with rivets. These rivets were thermally assembled so that they contracted once they cooled. This ensured that there was a tight fit. The construction work ended on March 31, 1889.
Unfortunately, while the history of the Eiffel Tower is well known, we can’t say the same for the history of Eiffel Tower Day. Obviously, it’s a celebration of the anniversary of the tower’s completion, and we believe that it has been celebrated ever since 1890.
Regardless of when it became an official holiday, it’s still a holiday that is observed to this day.
Observing Eiffel Tower Day
For us, the ideal way to celebrate this holiday would be to visit the Eiffel Tower. However, we understand that this is beyond the means of many people. Fortunately, there’s another way that people can enjoy this monument.
The Eiffel Tower has a website where people can take virtual tours for free. Although that’s not as good as being there in person, it’s still pretty great. People can also take the time to learn more about the Eiffel Tower on this day or spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #EiffelTowerDay online.
These are all great ways for people to show their love for this monument and share it with others. This tower is a remarkable achievement, and people all around the world deserve to experience it.