13 Interesting Facts About Gustave Eiffel

Do you want to know some interesting facts about Gustave Eiffel?

Gustave Eiffel, a renowned French civil engineer, left his mark on the world with bridges, towers, and monuments. Of course, his most famous creation is the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris. But beyond that, he played a role in creating several other remarkable engineering wonders.

After he finished his career in engineering, decided to follow his passion for research and embarked on a scientific adventure. He started an exciting project in Auteuil, where he built a lab to study how the wind and air affect different shapes and materials.

Eiffel also dabbled in aviation, designing wind tunnels and tested models of planes, airships, and propellers. His work in aviation earned him many awards and honors.

Keep scrolling if you want to learn more interesting facts about Gustave Eiffel.

13 Interesting Facts About Gustave Eiffel

1. Gustave Eiffel adopted his name from a mountain range in Germany

He was born Alexandre Gustave Bonickhausen dit Eiffel on December 15, 1832 in Dijon, France. He opted to adopt the name “Eiffel” to honor his family’s roots in the Eifel mountains of Germany.

This surname became iconic, forever associated with one of the most famous landmarks in the world.

2. He built hundreds of metal structures of all kinds all around the world

Gustave Eiffel was an impressive builder, creating not only the famous Eiffel Tower but many remarkable metal structures around the globe as well. He had a passion for building bridges, especially those for railways, but he also excelled in designing industrial installations and other incredible metal creations. So, while the Eiffel Tower is famous, it’s not his only achievement worth mentioning!

Eiffel’s achievements went far beyond the ordinary, leaving us incredible monuments like the Nice Observatory dome, the Porto Viaduct spanning the Douro River, the striking Garabit Viaduct, Hungary’s Pest Railway Station, the Bordeaux Railway Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty.

3. He designed and built what was then the world’s highest bridge

After finishing school at École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in 1855, Gustave Eiffel focused on working with metal, especially making bridges. He became known for creating various bridges for the French railway system.

One of his famous creations was the Garabit viaduct, which held the record as the world’s highest bridge when it was finished in 1884.

4. He designed the massive iron structure and the framework of the Statue of Liberty

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was hired to design the massive iron pylon and the skeletal framework of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. He collaborated with sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and shipped the iron structure of the statue in pieces to America, where it was assembled on a pedestal on Bedloe’s Island.

5. He gained worldwide fame with the construction of the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower, that iconic landmark, was actually built for a big event called the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. Gustave Eiffel’s company worked on it, and they managed to put it all together in just 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days.

The tower became very popular and is currently the tallest structure you’ll find in Paris. It was even the tallest structure in the world until 1930.

6. He was not the Eiffel Tower’s original designer

Gustave Eiffel purchased the patent rights from Maurice Koechlin, Émile Nouguier, and Stephen Sauvestre, engineers who worked for his firm. Eiffel made some changes to their design and decided to put his own name on it.

7. Gustave Eiffel personally funded most of the tower

When the Eiffel Tower was originally constructed, the French government only chipped in 18% of the money needed, which means Mr. Eiffel had to come up with the rest of the cash all by himself. If they were to build it today, the tower would cost around 30 million euros.

8. Gustave Eiffel faced a lot of opposition and criticism for his namesake tower

It was tough times for Mr. Eiffel at first. He faced quite a challenge for the Eiffel Tower. Some well-known artists and intellectuals in Paris weren’t too happy about his tower idea. They thought it was big and ugly and would spoil the city’s beauty. They even signed a petition to try and stop it from being built and wanted it gone.

Eiffel stood up for his tower. He claimed it wasn’t just a marvel of engineering, but also a symbol of France’s advancement and culture. He believed the tower had artistry in it and would inspire young architects and engineers for generations to come.

9. Gustave Eiffel had a private apartment at the top of his iconic tower

In his apartment, Mr. Eiffel had some pretty interesting stuff! Inside his abode, there was a telescope for gazing at the stars, a barometer to suss out the weather, a phonograph for music that set the mood, and yes, even a telegraph machine.

He had quite famous friends over as well. We’re talking about the likes of the Prince and Princess of Wales, King George I of Greece, the legendary inventor Thomas Edison, and the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt.

10. Gustave Eiffel was involved in what was dubbed as the biggest financial scandal of the 19th century

In 1887, Eiffel took on a massive project: building the locks for the Panama Canal. It was a huge job, but things didn’t go well due to poor management by the French diplomat and developer Ferdinand de Lesseps. In the end, the project turned into a huge financial mess, making it the riskiest and most significant contract in Gustave Eiffel’s entire career.

Mr. Eiffel went through a tough time when he was accused of fraud and corruption during the construction. Eventually, he was even sentenced to two years in prison and had to pay a big fine.

He didn’t give up, however. He appealed the verdict, and in the end, they found him innocent. Still, the whole thing was really tough on him, and he decided to retire from engineering.

11. He made the Eiffel Tower a hub of scientific exploration

Gustave Eiffel didn’t just stop at building the tower. He used it for various scientific experiments which included meteorology and aerodynamics. He installed a weather station, a laboratory, and a radio transmitter on the tower and conducted tests on wind resistance, air pressure, and temperature.

Gustave Eiffel even invited scientists and inventors to come and do their experiments at his apartment. One famous visitor was Thomas Edison. He came to the tower in 1889 and even brought his phonograph to play music from the very top.

12. He died in Paris while listening to Beethoven

Gustave Eiffel lived a long and fulfilling life, passing away while listening to Beethoven’s 5th symphony andante, on December 27, 1923 in his mansion on Rue Rabelais in the French capital. He was 91 years old.

Eiffel was laid to his final resting place in the family tomb at Cimetière Levallois-Perret.

13. His works are still admired and visited by millions of people each year

While Gustave Eiffel may have left us, his remarkable legacy lives on through the masterpieces he crafted. His name is forever linked to the most iconic symbol of France.

Many regard Mr. Eiffel as one of the greatest engineers in history and a trailblazer in modern architecture and design. People from across the globe continue to flock to his creations, year after year, to admire and pay tribute to his enduring impact.