The Eiffel Tower

I was watching James May yesterday and he was talking about the Eiffel Tower, as the home of Meccano is now in France and the structure is a Meccano addicts wet dream. 

The point is I had never really given a thought as to what the point of the Eiffel Tower really is?  I knew it was officially the tallest structure up until the 30s but other than that I did not know why it was built?  A quick Wiki search and Google later it turns out that it was built for the 1889 World Fair, so it was built as a spectacle - like the Crystal Palace at the first World Fair held in London.  Also the Atomium in Brussels was a World Fair structure, which is pretty cool.



It seems impressive the French have contributed some amazingly pointless but renowned and beautiful structures to the world.  Especially if some don't know the Statue of Liberty was built by the french and given to the Americans.

First constructed in Paris

 

I knew all this already.

Mr. Eiffel made the Statue of Liberty it was a gift for the United States.

I was aware who built it but I did not know why - apologies for an info nugget that others were aware of, just thought it might make a change to have a little history thread - oh well.

There is also a smaller version of the statue of liberty located in paris itself!

I think its very impressive, considering it was built over 100 years ago. Was the Statue of Liberty shipped over in one piece or in bits?

jacked_fibres


I knew all this already.

clap......................clap...........

john_cappa


There is also a smaller version of the statue of liberty located in paris itself!

Actually there are about 15 replica's in Paris.  There is a bronze version given back to Paris by the States that has the dates of Independence Day and the storming of the Bastille on the book instead.

American Gift

I agree that it's quite amazing, I doubt such a folly would be made in this day and age.  Then again, maybe the Saudis would.

peagreen

john_cappa


There is also a smaller version of the statue of liberty located in paris itself!

Actually there are about 15 replica's in Paris.  There is a bronze version given back to Paris by the States that has the dates of Independence Day and the storming of the Bastille on the book instead.

[img]http://ourladyliberty.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/frenchkiss3.png?w=340&h=425[/img]

15? really? wow! 

didnt know that

joeho87


I think its very impressive, considering it was built over 100 years ago. Was the Statue of Liberty shipped over in one piece or in bits?

Arm and Torch
The arm and torch portion of the statue was completed in time for the 1876 centennial celebration. It was shipped to the U.S. and displayed in Philadelphia.
Transport
To ship the remaining portion of the statue to New York, it was broken down into 250 pieces and shipped aboard the French frigate Isere in 1885.
Reconstruction
After sitting for 11 months while waiting for the U.S. to finish the pedestal, the Statue of Liberty was reconstructed in four months. On Oct. 28, 1886, the statue was unveiled to the public.

John, I knew there was a Bronze replica that the states gave back and I also knew there was a replica as the entrance to a tunnel in France but could not remember where which prompted reading about it.

Frederic Bartholdi, a French sculptor, designed the statue and presented a small-scale model in 1870 made from bronze now on display in Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.

As said Eiffel built it, one of the feet on the tower has a bronze bust of the man, if I remember correctly.

Blimey. Seems like such a huge feat when you think what era it was.

Allegedly the Blackpool Tower was based on the Eiffel Tower

peagreen


Allegedly the Blackpool Tower was based on the Eiffel Tower

 

Eiffel Schmeiffel.

We have one in Croydon.

john_cappa

jacked_fibres


I knew all this already.

clap......................clap...........

You feeling ok john?

It seems like you're cracking up on most threads these days, I know it must be so frustrating trying to be funny and also trying to become a mod and failing on both accounts, but someone has to be the boring guy!

And 1889 was of course the 100 year anniversary of the storming of the Bastille.

is there a little squeaking noise in here?! like a buzzing fly, easy ignore




It is a really impressive structure. Ive never gotten to go up to the top. When i was there the top was closed for some reason.

symzie


Eiffel Schmeiffel.

We have one in Croydon.

Pah. Croydon my bum. That's Crystal Palace. In fact those are the steps bottom right to any worlds fair type event building (the Crystal Palace burning down many years ago).