The Eiffel Tower, the shimmering symbol of Paris and one of the most famous landmarks in the world, is admired by millions each year. While most people associate it with the name Gustave Eiffel, the story of who built the Eiffel Tower is a fascinating collaboration of brilliant engineers, architects, and workers who turned an ambitious idea into a timeless reality.

The tower was conceived as the centerpiece of the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair), held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The French government wanted a bold architectural statement to showcase the nation’s industrial achievements. A design competition was announced, and the winning proposal came from the engineering firm of Gustave Eiffel et Cie.

Although Gustave Eiffel became the face of the project, much of the credit belongs to his talented team. The original concept was developed by two senior engineers at his company — Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier. In 1884, they sketched the first design for a 300-meter iron tower supported by four massive piers that curved inward to meet at the top. This revolutionary idea combined strength with elegance, but at first, it faced skepticism from many quarters.

To refine the design and give it a more appealing look, Eiffel brought in architect Stephen Sauvestre. Sauvestre added the decorative arches at the base, glass pavilions on the first level, and the ornate spire at the top, turning a purely industrial structure into a work of art that would blend with Paris’s architectural beauty.

Construction began on January 28, 1887 on the Champ de Mars along the Seine River. Over 300 workers labored on-site, assembling the 18,038 iron components that were manufactured in Eiffel’s factory in Levallois-Perret, just outside Paris. The precision was extraordinary for its time — each piece was designed, prefabricated, and riveted together with exacting accuracy. More than 2.5 million rivets were used to complete the structure.

The project faced criticism from many Parisians, including artists and intellectuals, who signed a petition calling the tower an “eyesore.” However, Eiffel defended his creation passionately, emphasizing its technical brilliance and aesthetic harmony. His confidence was vindicated when the tower was completed on March 15, 1889, ahead of schedule and within budget.

At 300 meters (984 feet) tall, the Eiffel Tower became the tallest man-made structure in the world, a record it held for 41 years. Gustave Eiffel himself climbed to the top on opening day to raise the French flag, an act that symbolized both national pride and the triumph of modern engineering.

Eiffel’s genius wasn’t limited to design and construction. He understood that the tower could serve practical purposes beyond the World’s Fair. In the following years, it became a hub for radio and telegraph transmissions, which ultimately saved it from being dismantled when its 20-year permit expired.

Today, the Eiffel Tower is admired not only for its beauty but also for the collaborative effort that made it possible. Gustave Eiffel provided leadership, resources, and vision, while Koechlin, Nouguier, and Sauvestre contributed engineering expertise and architectural elegance. The skilled laborers who assembled the structure braved challenging conditions, working high above the ground without the modern safety equipment we take for granted today.

More than 7 million visitors ascend the Eiffel Tower each year, enjoying panoramic views of Paris from its three levels. As they gaze across the city, few realize the depth of teamwork, innovation, and determination that went into building this masterpiece. The story of who built the Eiffel Tower is, at its heart, the story of human creativity — a perfect blend of art, science, and ambition that continues to inspire the world.