The Eiffel Tower for Kids: Famous World Landmarks for Children - FreeSchool

Summary

This video from FreeSchool explores the history and significance of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Originally built as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair, it was designed by Gustave Eiffel and required over 18,000 iron pieces and 2.5 million rivets to construct. Initially intended as a temporary structure, the Eiffel Tower became a vital communications tool and a global symbol of France. Today, it is the most popular paid attraction in the world, famous for its unique design, historical importance, and replicas around the globe.

Takeaways

• 🗼 The Eiffel Tower is a globally recognized symbol of France, originally built as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair.
• 🎨 The design of the Eiffel Tower was chosen from over 100 competing plans and awarded to Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel.
• 🔩 The tower's construction required over 18,000 iron pieces and 2.5 million rivets, taking more than two years to complete.
• 🏗️ At nearly 1,000 feet, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world until the Chrysler Building was completed in 1930.
• ⏳ The Eiffel Tower was initially intended to be a temporary structure, meant to stand for just 20 years.
• 📡 Over time, the Eiffel Tower became useful for transmitting wireless telegraph and radio signals, which contributed to its preservation.
• 🌬️ The Eiffel Tower is highly wind-resistant, swaying only up to five inches in the wind and moving up to seven inches when exposed to heat.
• 🖌️ The tower is repainted every seven years to prevent rust, using 60 tons of paint. It has been various colors, including yellow and its current bronze 'Eiffel Tower Brown.'
• 👥 With around 7 million visitors annually, the Eiffel Tower is the most popular paid attraction in the world.
• 🌍 The Eiffel Tower has inspired numerous replicas around the globe and is part of a World Heritage Site that includes parts of Paris.

Q & A

What is the Eiffel Tower, and why is it famous?

The Eiffel Tower is an internationally recognized symbol of France and one of the most famous structures in the world. It was originally built as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Who designed the Eiffel Tower, and what was his background?

The Eiffel Tower was designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, a bridge builder, architect, and metals expert who also designed the framework for the Statue of Liberty.

How many pieces of iron and rivets were used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower?

The Eiffel Tower required more than 18,000 pieces of iron and 2.5 million rivets to construct.

How long did it take to build the Eiffel Tower, and how tall is it?

It took hundreds of workers more than two years to finish building the Eiffel Tower, which was completed in March 1889. The tower is almost 1,000 feet (over 300 meters) high.

What was the Eiffel Tower's original purpose, and how did people initially react to it?

The Eiffel Tower was originally built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair and was only meant to stand for 20 years. Many Parisians disliked it at first, considering it ugly and potentially dangerous.

Why was the Eiffel Tower not removed after 20 years as initially planned?

By the time the Eiffel Tower was supposed to be removed, it was realized that it was valuable for transmitting wireless telegraph and radio signals. As a result, city officials decided to keep it.

How many antennas are on the Eiffel Tower today, and what purpose do they serve?

There are more than 100 antennas on the Eiffel Tower today, which are used for various communication purposes.

How resistant is the Eiffel Tower to wind and temperature changes?

The Eiffel Tower is incredibly wind-resistant, swaying only up to five inches in strong winds. However, when the side facing the sun heats up, it can expand, causing the tower to grow by a few inches.