It was 1889 when Gustave Eiffel’s vision had finally been completed. The Eiffel Tower was finalized and standing as the tallest building in the world; yet the Parisians were furious. This monument was unwanted to begin with and after it was built the people still wished for it to be taken down. One would not imagine that such an iconic tower was ever despised by its people. The Eiffel Tower has had a journey that very few people are aware of. It was protested and pictures were taken depicting it as a monstrosity. The tower had been completed and still people waited for the day it would be demolished. Finally, when the people of Paris realized this tower was here to stay it began to get some of the love and adoration that the world sees today. 

When the people of Paris first learned that a tower was going to be built in the center of their city, they were enraged. They protested Gustave’s tower and created images to mock him. As one can see in the first image, it is Gustave Eiffel standing next to the tower. During this time, around the late 1880s, there were many different images circulating that were used to protest the creation of the tower. Most of the images contained Gustave and like the one with him standing next to the tower, none of them were in his favor. This image poked fun at Gustave and how he only cared about creating a tower that the Parisians felt had no purpose. The way this image is shown in how Gustave is as large as the tower is to make him appear selfish. This image is used because when the idea to create the tower came about, no one was in favor of it. This image is first because very few people know that the Eiffel Tower was protested before it had even been assembled. This image helps to start to show the long journey this tower had to endure before the world began to idolize it. Unfortunately to the Parisians’ distaste and despite all the protesting that occurred, nothing could stop the building of the tower. As seen in the second image the foundation to the tower had been laid and the work had begun. The people of Paris were still not happy about the building process and this can be seen in the image. The second image is showing the initial building of the Eiffel tower, but not it a positive way. This depiction shown makes the tower look pathetic and very unappealing to the eye. This was the goal of the photographers of this image. The photographers in Paris did all that they could with this image to make the tower look as unpleasant as possible. The goal of this image was to make the tower seem like a waste of money for an ugly thing of metal. This second image was used to show how photographers of the time tried to use images to depict the tower as absurd.

It is now 1889 and the final touches have been completed; the Eiffel Tower is finished. In the third image one can see a picture of the finalized Eiffel Tower standing tall amongst other buildings. This image is used to show how truly incredible the tower was and still is to this day. Especially during this time, the tower was astonishing. During the 1890s there was nothing quite like this around. It was the tallest building of its time and it would take a few years for any other building to surpass its height. The simplicity of this image is done so to fully allow the focus to be on the tower. There are other things, like buildings, in the image, but they are there so one can truly see how tall the Eiffel Tower is. The image makes it appear as though it is touching the clouds. It gives it an almost surreal feel to the tower. This image is used to transition from viewing the tower as a waste of money and resources, or the fact that it was supposed to be taken down after its purpose was fulfilled to viewing the tower as the beauty that it is. This image makes one not think about the other issues behind the tower, but instead the focus is on how it is extraordinary.

Now that the Eiffel Tower is starting to no longer be viewed as a hateful object the next few images are used to show how magnificent it is. Once the people of Paris realized that this tower would not be taken down they began to appreciate its beauty. The final three images really show the attraction that this monument holds. In the fourth image it shows a typical sunny day in Paris. The crowds around the Eiffel Tower seem enormous, but for this monument it is a predictable day. This image shows that the tower has become one of the most popular things in the world to visit. People from across the globe travel to see this tower and to have the once in a lifetime experience of visiting this glorious masterpiece. This image makes it seem ludicrous that the people of Paris wished for it to not exist! The next image shows the stunning view one gets by going to the top of the tower. Riding on an elevator to the top of the tower is an experience many people wait hours in line for. Being able to view Paris from the Eiffel Tower is something one cannot pass on if they are in Paris. This image shows the beauty of Paris and how any person would be lucky to be able to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. The final image shows the tower at night. Visiting the tower at night is equally as popular than in the daytime because they have adapted the tower. They have created a light show that happens at the top of every hour once the sun has set. The city of Paris has modified the tower to make it popular at all hours of the day. They have tailored it so that they can increase how popular and fascinating it truly is. By viewing the last three images, it shows the reader how incredible the tower is and after all the adversity it faced it came out the other side as the radiant Eiffel Tower one sees today.

Every single image that is used shows the journey of the Eiffel Tower, from a seemingly terrible idea to one of the most visited monuments in the world. The opening photos are in black in white to show how plain in dull it appeared at this time. Then, when the first photo with color appears it makes the tower look beautiful and adored. The transition from an unwelcomed structure to a magnificent monument is incredible and displayed through the presented images.
