The Dawn of a New Era

As 1887 drew to a close, the foundations were complete and the first iron pieces began arriving from Eiffel's workshop in Levallois-Perret. Each beam was precisely manufactured, with holes drilled to exact specifications. The era of monumental iron construction was about to begin.

The stage was set for one of the most ambitious construction projects the world had ever seen. Paris, with all its contradictions and aspirations, would soon witness the rise of a structure that would challenge conventions, inspire controversy, and ultimately become the city's most beloved symbol.

The diverse voices of Paris—artists and engineers, natives and immigrants, workers and intellectuals—would all play their part in the drama about to unfold. The Tower that would rise from the Champ de Mars would belong not just to France, but to all who dared to dream in iron and light.

In the workshops and planning offices, on the streets and in the cafés, Paris held its breath. The age of the Eiffel Tower was about to begin.# Chapter 2: Gustave Eiffel and His Team

The story of the Eiffel Tower cannot be told without understanding the remarkable man whose name it bears, and perhaps more importantly, the diverse team of brilliant minds who made the impossible possible. While history has immortalized Gustave Eiffel, the tower's creation was truly a collaborative triumph, bringing together engineers, architects, mathematicians, and workers from across Europe and beyond.