The Eiffel Tower was built between 1887 and 1889 for the Centennial of the French Revolution by 300 steel workers, one of whom was killed during construction. It is 1,052 feet tall and weighs 7,000 tons. Every seven years it is covered with 70 tons of dark brown paint. Steph, Alek, and I walked the 704 steps that are walkable by visitors, after which you must board a glass elevator that takes you to the viewing terrace at the top. It was the tallest structure in the world until 1930 when the Chrysler Building surpassed it, and on a clear day, like this one, you can see for 42 miles across France. It was a dark day on June 14, 1940 when the Germans entered Paris and hoisted the German flag atop it, but today there is no escaping it as the symbol of this great French city.
