Paris - The Eiffel Tower

Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris and one of the most recognized and most visited structures in the world. The structure was built between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle (World's Fair) of 1889. The tower initially met with much criticism from the public who called it an eyesore. The tower was built as a temporary structure to be torn down in 1909 but the city left it standing as a communications tower. It eventually became synonymous with the city of Paris.