La Tour Eiffel

By Monsieur

Nielsen

Did you know….• Between 1900-1914,

the Eiffel Tower cannon went off at noon to set their watches for the precise time?

• During WWI, the radiotelegraphic center intercepted enemy messages and was the origin of the arrest of the famous spy Mata Hari, who was a famous exotic dancer (she was accused by the French of spying for the Germans)?

Did you know….• During WWII, the

French cut the cables and destroyed the electrical system so no one could go up to the top to use the radio system?

• A glider flew under and through the lower opening in 1984?

• Arnold Palmer (pro golfer) hit a ball off the top floor?

Did you know….• In order to go to

the top floor, you need to get on a second elevator on the second floor to continue to the third level?

• To get to the fourth level, you walk up some short stairs to see a wax museum with Thomas Edison in it?

Did you know….• The third level has 360

degree circular explanation of the city sites?

• To this day, the Eiffel Tower has been completely repainted every 7 years.How long to paint it?: 15 months. 60 tons of paint to cover 200,000m2, 25 painters using only brushes. Color: "Tour Eiffel brown" in three shades, with the lightest shade at the top and the darkest at the bottom.

Background History• Built for the

Universal Exposition (World’s Fair) of 1889

• Gustave Eiffel was the architect

• Most famous landmark of Europe

• Was the largest structure at the time

• Cost 7,800,000 gold francs (in 1889) to build

• $61,000,000 value

Five French Words

• Grand

• Célèbre

• Vue Spectacle

• Excitant

• Haut

Tour• Cost: 12,00 € • Open: 9:00 a.m. to

12:45 a.m.• Stairs are available to

the second floor• Elevators only to the

third floor• Handicap accessible

to the second floor• About 6 million

visitors each year with about 70% Europeans and 15 % Americans

Map location• Tour Eiffel

Champ de Mars75007 Paris

• Tel: 33 (0)1 45 55 20 04

• Left Bank• Métro: Trocadero• Taxi• Bus• RER

Questions• Why was the Eiffel Tower built?

• How often is it painted?