Second Floor

One of the most noted landmarks in Paris, France is a striking steel structure of dizzy iron girders web together reaching for the sky. Yes you guess it - this wonder of height is the Eiffel Tower.

Gustave Eiffel was the lucky designer, whose design was picked among 700 others. The Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889, and remained the world's tallest structure for 40 years.

Gastave gracefully tapered the piers so the tower would resist wind forces. Because the edges of the tower were curved and the trusses and supports raduated from top to bottom, each piece had to be constructed off-site and then put together on-site. It was crucial that the rivet holes were in perfect position and matched up. Much precaution was taken, so there were no problems hooking up the 12,000 pieces together, even when pieces were lifted 164 feet in the air.

Eiffel used hydraulic jacks placed inside the base of each leg so he elevate up to 900 tons and adjust the angle of the main column. By raising or lowering the jacks the upper structures could be brought into perfect alignment. Eiffel method of assembling the tower was a great accomplishment for that time period.

Gustave Eiffel also was responsible for the design of the iron skeleton for the Statue of Liberty as well as the 1,667 foot long Garabit Viaduct in France and many other projects. The Eiffel Tower is twice as high as the Washington Monument.

To learn more: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/tour
http://www.artday.com/

The Washington Monument stands as the centerpiece of the Mall in Washington D.C., America's popular tourist spot. Honoring the first president of the United States, George Washington, the monument is the tallest masonry tower in the world.