This Day in History: <br />Eiffel Tower Opens March 31, 1889 Designed by Gustave Eiffel, <br />the tower was completed in less <br />than two years, as well as under budget. Eiffel's design was chosen <br />among more than 100 others. <br />The structure is meant as a commemoration <br />of the centenary of the French Revolution. At the time of its opening, <br />it was the tallest man-made <br />structure in the world. To complete the iconic structure, <br />Eiffel faced design skepticism and criticism. Decades after its construction, <br />the tower was accepted as a <br />masterpiece of architecture. Less than two months after its opening, <br />the tower would serve as the entrance <br />to the Paris International Exposition.
