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Monument Makeover

Discover why the Eiffel Tower is getting a new coat of paint

December 13, 2021
By Jennifer Hackett

AS YOU READ, THINK ABOUT how people work to protect structures from wear and tear.

SERGEY BORISOV/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

For 132 years, the Eiffel Tower has been an iconic part of the skyline of Paris, France. Architect Gustave Eiffel constructed the tower in celebration of the 1889 World’s Fair. Today, the majestic “Iron Lady” is one of the most-visited monuments in the world. Keeping the tower standing tall after more than a century requires constant care—and regular coats of paint.

The Eiffel Tower is made of 7,300 tons of wrought iron. This type of iron is created by melting raw iron in a coal-powered furnace. A tiny amount of carbon (C) from the coal is added to the iron, resulting in an alloy, or metal mixture. The process also removes impurities and strengthens the material. Over time, though, iron can oxidize—chemically combine with oxygen (O)—resulting in weak spots and rust.

For 132 years, the Eiffel Tower has been a famous part of the skyline of Paris, France. Architect Gustave Eiffel built the tower for the 1889 World’s Fair. The tower is known as the “Iron Lady.” Today, this majestic tower is one of the most-visited monuments in the world. It takes constant care to keep the tower standing tall after more than a century. It also takes regular coats of paint. 

The Eiffel Tower is made of 7,300 tons of wrought iron. To make this type of iron, workers melt raw iron in a coal-powered furnace. A tiny amount of carbon (C) from the coal is added to the iron. This creates an alloy, or metal mixture. The process also removes unwanted materials and strengthens the iron. But over time, iron can oxidize, or chemically combine with oxygen (O). That causes weak spots and rust. 

MARTIN BUREAU/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

BIG JOB: Painting the entire Eiffel Tower takes about 18 months.

To protect the Eiffel Tower, workers periodically strip old paint from the structure, treat the surface with rust-proofing chemicals, and then repaint the entire monument. This happens about every seven years and is done mostly by hand. It takes about 61,000 liters (16,100 gallons) of paint to cover all 250,000 square meters (2.7 million square feet) of the tower. That’s an area the size of 47 football fields!

Over the years, the tower has been painted a variety of colors, including reddish brown, yellow, chestnut, and bronze. The structure’s most recent paint job began in 2019 and is set to be completed this year. The latest coat is a new golden hue in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

To protect the Eiffel Tower, workers regularly strip old paint from the structure. Then they treat the surface with rust-proofing chemicals and repaint the entire monument. This happens about every seven years. The work is done mostly by hand. The tower’s surface area is 250,000 square meters (2.7 million square feet). That’s the size of 47 football fields! It takes about 61,000 liters (16,100 gallons) of paint to cover it.

Over the years, the tower has been painted different colors. It’s been reddish brown, yellow, chestnut, and bronze. The structure’s newest paint job began in 2019. It’s set to be completed within the next year. The latest coat is a new golden shade to prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics.   

Colossal Construction

Here’s a breakdown of the Eiffel Tower by the numbers.

Here’s a breakdown of the Eiffel Tower by the numbers.

Height: 1,063 feet

Weight: 10,100 tons

Cost to Build: $1.5 million in 1889, equivalent to about $45 million today

Materials: 18,038 iron pieces, 2.5 million rivets

Time to Build: 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days

Light Bulbs: 20,000

Names Engraved on the Tower: 72, honoring the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who contributed to the tower’s construction

Height: 1,063 feet

Weight: 10,100 tons

Cost to Build: $1.5 million in 1889, equivalent to about $45 million today

Materials: 18,038 iron pieces, 2.5 million rivets

Time to Build: 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days

Light Bulbs: 20,000

Names Engraved on the Tower: 72, honoring the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who contributed to the tower’s construction

SOURCE: TOUR EIFFEL

SOURCE: TOUR EIFFEL

DIG INTO THE DATA: The Eiffel Tower has four sides, each with an equal number of twinkling bulbs that light up the structure at night. How many light bulbs does each side have?

DIG INTO THE DATA: The Eiffel Tower has four sides, each with an equal number of twinkling bulbs that light up the structure at night. How many light bulbs does each side have?

Colossal Construction

Here’s a breakdown of the Eiffel Tower by the numbers.

Here’s a breakdown of the Eiffel Tower by the numbers.

Height: 1,063 feet

Weight: 10,100 tons

Cost to Build: $1.5 million in 1889, equivalent to about $45 million today

Materials: 18,038 iron pieces, 2.5 million rivets

Time to Build: 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days

Light Bulbs: 20,000

Names Engraved on the Tower: 72, honoring the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who contributed to the tower’s construction

Height: 1,063 feet

Weight: 10,100 tons

Cost to Build: $1.5 million in 1889, equivalent to about $45 million today

Materials: 18,038 iron pieces, 2.5 million rivets

Time to Build: 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days

Light Bulbs: 20,000

Names Engraved on the Tower: 72, honoring the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who contributed to the tower’s construction

SOURCE: TOUR EIFFEL

SOURCE: TOUR EIFFEL

DIG INTO THE DATA: The Eiffel Tower has four sides, each with an equal number of twinkling bulbs that light up the structure at night. How many light bulbs does each side have?

DIG INTO THE DATA: The Eiffel Tower has four sides, each with an equal number of twinkling bulbs that light up the structure at night. How many light bulbs does each side have?

Top Attractions

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world. Check out its competition.

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world. Check out its competition.

SOURCE: STATISTA

DIG INTO THE DATA: Roughly how many more visitors does the Forbidden City receive each year than the Eiffel Tower?

DIG INTO THE DATA: Roughly how many more visitors does the Forbidden City receive each year than the Eiffel Tower?

Top Attractions

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world. Check out its competition.

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world. Check out its competition.

SOURCE: STATISTA

DIG INTO THE DATA: Roughly how many more visitors does the Forbidden City receive each year than the Eiffel Tower?

DIG INTO THE DATA: Roughly how many more visitors does the Forbidden City receive each year than the Eiffel Tower?

SSPL VIA GETTY IMAGES

GOING UP

The Eiffel Tower was once the tallest structure in the world. This title later passed to other structures that soared to even greater heights.

The Eiffel Tower was once the tallest structure in the world. This title later passed to other structures that soared to even greater heights.

SOURCES: TOUR EIFFEL, COUNCIL ON TALL BUILDINGS AND URBAN HABITAT

DIG INTO THE DATA: About how much taller is the current tallest structure than the Eiffel Tower was in 1889?

DIG INTO THE DATA: About how much taller is the current tallest structure than the Eiffel Tower was in 1889?

GOING UP

The Eiffel Tower was once the tallest structure in the world. This title later passed to other structures that soared to even greater heights.

The Eiffel Tower was once the tallest structure in the world. This title later passed to other structures that soared to even greater heights.

SOURCES: TOUR EIFFEL, COUNCIL ON TALL BUILDINGS AND URBAN HABITAT

DIG INTO THE DATA: About how much taller is the current tallest structure than the Eiffel Tower was in 1889?

DIG INTO THE DATA: About how much taller is the current tallest structure than the Eiffel Tower was in 1889?

Historic Landmark

Here are key points in the Eiffel Tower’s history.

Here are key points in the Eiffel Tower’s history.

HENRY GUTTMANN COLLECTION/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES; SOURCE: TOUR EIFFEL

1887

Construction begins on the Eiffel Tower.

1887

Construction begins on the Eiffel Tower.

1889

The tower is completed for the 1889 World’s Fair, becoming the tallest structure in the world.

1889

The tower is completed for the 1889 World’s Fair, becoming the tallest structure in the world.

1914-1918

During World War I, the tower is used to intercept enemy radio transmissions.

1914-1918

During World War I, the tower is used to intercept enemy radio transmissions.

1964

The tower is declared a historical monument by the French minister of cultural affairs.

1964

The tower is declared a historical monument by the French minister of cultural affairs.

2002

The 200-millionth guest visits the monument, based on records of ticket sales.

2002

The 200-millionth guest visits the monument, based on records of ticket sales.

2015

Two wind turbines are installed on the tower’s second floor, which power commercial areas below.

2015

Two wind turbines are installed on the tower’s second floor, which power commercial areas below.

DIG INTO THE DATA: If the tower is repainted every seven years, about how many times has it been painted in all (including its initial painting)?

DIG INTO THE DATA: If the tower is repainted every seven years, about how many times has it been painted in all (including its initial painting)?

Historic Landmark

Here are key points in the Eiffel Tower’s history.

Here are key points in the Eiffel Tower’s history.

HENRY GUTTMANN COLLECTION/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES; SOURCE: TOUR EIFFEL

1887

Construction begins on the Eiffel Tower.

1887

Construction begins on the Eiffel Tower.

1889

The tower is completed for the 1889 World’s Fair, becoming the tallest structure in the world.

1889

The tower is completed for the 1889 World’s Fair, becoming the tallest structure in the world.

1914-1918

During World War I, the tower is used to intercept enemy radio transmissions.

1914-1918

During World War I, the tower is used to intercept enemy radio transmissions.

1964

The tower is declared a historical monument by the French minister of cultural affairs.

1964

The tower is declared a historical monument by the French minister of cultural affairs.

2002

The 200-millionth guest visits the monument, based on records of ticket sales.

2002

The 200-millionth guest visits the monument, based on records of ticket sales.

2015

Two wind turbines are installed on the tower’s second floor, which power commercial areas below.

2015

Two wind turbines are installed on the tower’s second floor, which power commercial areas below.

DIG INTO THE DATA: If the tower is repainted every seven years, about how many times has it been painted in all (including its initial painting)?

DIG INTO THE DATA: If the tower is repainted every seven years, about how many times has it been painted in all (including its initial painting)?

Choose another famous monument and conduct research to learn how it was built, how it is maintained, and other interesting facts about it. Create a poster or infographic about the structure that uses at least two different visual elements, like graphs or timelines, to present what you learned. 

Choose another famous monument and conduct research to learn how it was built, how it is maintained, and other interesting facts about it. Create a poster or infographic about the structure that uses at least two different visual elements, like graphs or timelines, to present what you learned. 

Choose another famous monument and conduct research to learn how it was built, how it is maintained, and other interesting facts about it. Create a poster or infographic about the structure that uses at least two different visual elements, like graphs or timelines, to present what you learned. 

Choose another famous monument and conduct research to learn how it was built, how it is maintained, and other interesting facts about it. Create a poster or infographic about the structure that uses at least two different visual elements, like graphs or timelines, to present what you learned. 

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