The birth of the Eiffel Tower originated from a decision made by the French government in 1884.

That year, the French authorities planned to hold a grand exposition in 1889 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the victory of the French Revolution.

They aimed to construct a monument that could represent the honour of France. At the time, the stone Washington Monument had just been completed, standing at 170 meters and becoming the tallest structure in the world. The French wanted to surpass this record and showcase France's material achievements and powerful industrial capabilities.

The government decided to build an iconic structure exceeding 300 meters and publicly invited design proposals. Regardless of the ideas presented in the competition, the designs had to meet two conditions: 1. The structure should serve as a means to raise funds. 2. It should be a temporary construction that is easily dismantled after the exposition.

Over 100 design submissions were received, ranging from traditional to eccentric. Some proposed building a massive guillotine, others suggested erecting a 1000-foot (about 304 meters) sprinkler system to spray Paris during dry seasons, and there were even ideas to install a giant lamp on top of a tower to illuminate the entire city for convenient newspaper reading.

However, the most imaginative design came from 53-year-old architect Gustave Eiffel—a metallic arch tower concept. Eiffel's idea was to construct an innovative metallic triumphal arch to honour modern science and French industry. The arch would leave a unique impression and surpass various historical forms of triumphal arches.

Before the construction of the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel was already a renowned architect with involvement in projects such as the Budapest train station and the Statue of Liberty. In 1886, at age 54, Eiffel saw a new design opportunity when the French government opened a global competition for the World Exposition Building.

The open call for submissions concluded with Eiffel's design for the iron tower standing out. The tower's height was 300 meters, making it the tallest structure in the world, surpassing even the tallest buildings by more than twice the height.

What truly made him internationally famous was the tower named after him. Initially, despite the French government deciding to build the world's tallest iron tower in Paris, the funds provided were only one-fifth of the required amount. Eiffel mortgaged his architectural engineering company and all his property to the bank to realize his design as a project investment.

In January 1887, Eiffel signed a contract with the French and Paris city governments. Eiffel's engineering company would contribute $1.3 million of the $1.6 million total budget. In exchange, Eiffel would receive all revenues generated by the tower during the exposition and for the next 20 years. Afterward, ownership would transfer to the Paris city government, which could choose to dismantle the building if desired.

Thus, unlike other public monuments, the Eiffel Tower was designed from the start to generate income. If you wanted to take the elevator or stairs to the first platform, you had to pay 2 francs; to reach the top level, you needed to produce 5 francs (with a discount on Sundays).

This was just the beginning; the first platform planned to host restaurants, cafes, and shops, while the second platform intended to have a post office, telephone office, bakery, and gallery. The tower was designed to accommodate 10,416 paying visitors simultaneously.

Several layers of paint have been applied for protection to prevent oxidation on the Eiffel Tower. Since its construction, the tower has been repainted 19 times, averaging once every seven years. Since 2019, the Eiffel Tower has undergone its 20th coating, a process expected to last more than three years.

In preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Eiffel Tower is set to undergo a repainting, with maintenance costs estimated at around 60 million euros. This will mark the 20th repainting and restoration of the Eiffel Tower.