In December 1887, Gustave Eiffel's design was selected as the winning entry in a competition organized by the City of Paris to create a centerpiece for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Eiffel's proposal succeeded against over 100 entries, marking a monumental achievement in engineering. Upon completion, the tower stood as a symbol of innovation, capturing the public’s imagination with its bold height and distinctive iron structure.