Why was the Eiffel Tower built?

Summary

Summary of "Who Smarted? - Why Was the Eiffel Tower Built?" Episode

Podcast: Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids
Episode Title: Why Was the Eiffel Tower Built?
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Host/Author: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media

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Introduction to the Eiffel Tower Adventure

The episode begins with the Narrator welcoming listeners to Paris, France, humorously setting the scene by describing themselves riding a bicycle while wearing a beret and indulging in cheese ([00:03]). This playful introduction immediately engages young listeners, sparking curiosity about the iconic Eiffel Tower.

Gustave Eiffel and the Birth of the Tower

Listeners meet Gustave Eiffel, portrayed by an actor, who explains the origins of the Eiffel Tower ([00:57]). When asked, Gustave shares that the tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution ([04:58]). He reveals that his team won the design contest against other prominent architects, emphasizing the collaborative effort behind the tower's creation.

Notable Quote:
Gustave Eiffel states, “The 1889 World's Fair will be held in Paris and will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution” ([05:02]).

Design and Construction Marvels

Gustave delves into the impressive engineering feats involved in constructing the Eiffel Tower. With over 18,000 metal parts and approximately two and a half million rivets, the tower weighs in at over 20 million pounds ([04:31]). Drawing from his previous experience constructing the internal iron skeleton of the Statue of Liberty, Gustave and his team were able to erect the tower in a record time of two years, two months, and five days ([06:18]).

Notable Quote:
Gustave explains, “We put the whole thing up in just two years, two months and five days” ([06:31]).

Overcoming Criticism and Ensuring Longevity

Initially, the Eiffel Tower faced significant opposition, with 300 famous Parisians signing a petition to prevent its construction, deeming it ugly and monstrous ([08:23]). To ensure the tower's permanence beyond the initial 20-year agreement, Gustave ingeniously added a radio antenna to its top, transforming it into a valuable communication tool for the government ([07:50]).

Notable Quote:
Gustave remarks, “Some say the Eiffel Tower helped win World War I by intercepting crucial enemy communications” ([07:58]).

Technical Details and Maintenance

The episode explores the tower's technical aspects, including its ability to withstand winds by swaying up to five inches, a testament to its resilient design ([16:00]). The tower's paint plays a crucial role in preventing rust; it is repainted every seven years with 60 tons of paint, currently in a color known as "Eiffel Tower brown," applied in three shades to maintain its silhouette against the sky ([09:35]).

Notable Quote:
Gustave shares, “It's because of how the silhouette looks against the colors of the sky” regarding the painting strategy ([09:57]).

Thermal Expansion and Structural Dynamics

A fascinating discussion on thermal expansion reveals that the Eiffel Tower can grow up to six inches taller during hot days as the metal expands and retracts when cooled ([15:06]). This natural phenomenon ensures the tower remains dynamic yet stable throughout varying weather conditions.

Notable Quote:
Gustave explains, “Thanks to something called thermal expansion, the tower's metal parts expand when they get hot and shrink when they cool off” ([15:20]).

Gustave Eiffel’s Personal Space and Scientific Endeavors

Listeners are taken to the top of the Eiffel Tower, where Gustave's private apartment is located. This space once hosted luminaries like inventor Thomas Edison ([16:13]). Additionally, Gustave's laboratory housed experiments in aerodynamics, astronomy, and physics, including the discovery of cosmic rays ([16:35]).

Notable Quote:
Gustave shares, “I conducted all kinds of experiments here. For example, I built a wind tunnel so I could study how aerodynamics affect airplanes and automobiles” ([16:34]).

The Eiffel Tower’s Illuminations

The episode concludes with a magical look at the tower's lighting system. Covered with 20,000 light bulbs, the Eiffel Tower twinkles every hour on the hour for five minutes, a spectacle that took 25 mountain climbers five months to install ([17:04]).

Notable Quote:
Gustave proudly states, “The tower is covered with 20,000 light bulbs, which twinkle every hour on the hour for five minutes” ([17:06]).

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Narrator wraps up the adventure by reflecting on the enduring legacy and continual evolution of the Eiffel Tower, highlighting its blend of history, science, and architectural brilliance. The episode effectively combines humor and education, making complex engineering and historical facts accessible and entertaining for young minds.

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Production Credits:
This episode was written by Steve Macaron Melcher and voiced by Tea Escargot Garland, Adam Fritz Davis, and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design were managed by Josh Le Hamburger Hahn. The theme song was created by Brian Suvid Suarez with lyrics by Adam Tex Davis. Who Smarted? is a production of Atomic Entertainment.

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This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and educational content presented in the episode "Why Was the Eiffel Tower Built?" ensuring that listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the Eiffel Tower's history, construction, and enduring significance without needing to listen to the episode directly.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Bonjour, smarty pants. If you couldn't tell by the French music and me speaking the little bit of French I know, right now I'm in Paris, France, currently riding a bicycle while wearing a beret and eating lots of fromage or cheese, one might say. Too much cheese. Of course, you can't visit Paris without seeing one of the most famous monuments in all the world. Any guesses what it is? Is it the Waffle Tower, the Jenga Tower, or the Eiffel Tow? Why, of course it's the Eiffel Tower. A Jenga Tower probably wouldn't last very long. Ah, there it is. The eiffel Tower. All 984ft of it. It's as awe inspiring today as it was back in 1889 when it was built. I just wish Gustave Eiffel could see how beloved and magnifique his creation still remains.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Merci beaucoup, Naraitor Fidele. That's trusty Narrator In French.

[Narrator]

Gustave Eiffel, inventor of the Eiffel Tower 130 years ago. But how? He asked, knowing it was just an actor pretending to be someone from the past.

[Smarty Pants]

Oh.

[Gustave Eiffel]

I was going to say some magical cheese brought me back to life, but the smarty prince probably wouldn't fall for that.

[Narrator]

Agreed. Of course, this cheese is magical in other ways.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Please allow me to give you a door of my tower.

[Trusty]

I accept.

[Narrator]

Plus, that's gonna save me, like, 30 bucks.

[Gustave Eiffel]

So, where do we start on this elevator? Going up.

[Smarty Pants]

Whoa.

[Narrator]

This elevator has an amazing 360 degree view. I see Paris. I see France. I may need to change my underpants.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Right now, we are headed to the top of what was once the tallest structure in the world. When we built the Eiffel Tower, it was almost twice the height of the next tallest structure.

[Trusty]

Ooh.

[Narrator]

Any guesses what that was, smarty pants? Was it the Great Pyramid? The Great Wall of China, Big Ben? Or the Washington Monument? The answer is the Washington Monument. And the Eiffel Tower remained the tallest structure in the world until a building in New York became the world's tallest structure in 1930. Nope, not the Empire State Building. The Chrysler Building.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Hey, I'm giving you a free tour here. Are you just going to talk about other buildings and monuments, or are you going to talk about my Eiffel Tower?

[Narrator]

Sorry, Gustav. The smartypants and I would love to know more about your Eiffel Tower. Like, why did you build it in the first place? Is it true that it almost got torn down? And why doesn't it fall down in the wind. And what surprises will we find at the top? Get ready for another whiff of history, science and cheese on who smarted?

[Chet Nickerson]

Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smart?

[Trusty]

And hey, guys. Trusty here. You know one of my favorite things about summer backyard hangs. Hanging out with friends, having burgers, playing Frisbee. It's the best. And that's when our outdoor space becomes the main event. So this year, I finally upgraded my setup. Thank you, Wayfair. I got this awesome outdoor dining table that seats eight.

[Narrator]

Eight.

[Trusty]

It came fast. It looked perfect right out of the box. And now it's where we eat, play games, and, you know, just hang out. I also grabbed a set of string lights and a giant umbrella. So now it feels like my own little vacation spot without leaving the yard. And you know how much I love not leaving the yard. Wayfair seriously has everything. Grills, games, planters, even trampolines. And the shipping, Free.

[Narrator]

Always free. Even on the big stuff.

[Trusty]

So I got that table in under a week, and I didn't pay a dime for the shipping. So if your summer plans involve kicking back outback, head to Wayfair.com to shop. Outdoor furniture, grills, lawn games, and way more for way less. That's wayfair.com w a y f a I r.com Wayfair Every style, every home.

[Narrator]

I can't help noticing how much steel went into making this tower.

[Gustave Eiffel]

My tower is made up of over 18,000 metal parts and has about two and a half million rivets holding all of those parts together.

[Smarty Pants]

Whoa.

[Gustave Eiffel]

When you add it all up, the Eiffel tower weighs over 20 million pounds.

[Narrator]

Now, Gustave, I know you didn't just wake up one day and decide, you know, I think I'll build a thousand foot tall, 20 million pound iron tower in the middle of Paris. What really happened?

[Gustave Eiffel]

The 1889 World's Fair happened.

[Chet Nickerson]

This is Chet Nickerson somehow reporting from the 1880s. The 1889 World's Fair will be held in Paris and will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. To make it extra special, a contest is being held to design something to serve as the entrance way to the fairgrounds. Architects and designers from all over France have been invited to submit proposals to the design contest. I, for one, hope someone builds a really big, fancy steel tower.

[Smarty Pants]

Ah.

[Gustave Eiffel]

And that is just what me and some people who worked at my company proposed. And we won.

[Narrator]

That's great. Who helped you come up with the original design?

[Gustave Eiffel]

Let's see, there was Maurice Cochellain, Emile Noguier, and Steven Silvestre.

[Narrator]

Shouldn't it be called the Eiffel and all those other people Tower?

[Gustave Eiffel]

Perhaps. But I put up the money to build it, so I got to name it.

[Narrator]

Speaking of building it, how did you know how? No one had ever built anything 600ft tall before, let alone nearly a thousand.

[Gustave Eiffel]

My company had a lot of experience working with iron, and we were experts at building bridges. Oh, and I recently done a little work on another famous structure.

[Narrator]

Oh, which famous structure was that, smarty pants? The Statue of Liberty? The Empire State Building, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa? If you said the Statue of Liberty, you're right.

[Gustave Eiffel]

I constructed an internal iron skeleton that the Statue of Liberty could be built around. What we learned from doing that helped us build the Eiffel Tower in world record time. We put the whole thing up in just two years, two months and five days.

[Narrator]

That's fast.

[Gustave Eiffel]

First level, we're about 200ft up. This level has an observation platform and a few restaurants. Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom. But let's keep going along. Believe it or not, the Eiffel Tower was originally supposed to come down almost as fast as it went up. Seriously, the city of Paris only agreed to let IT stand for 20 years. After that, they were planning to take it apart and use it as scrap metal. But with some quick thinking, I was able to save it.

[Narrator]

Hmm. Smarty pants. What do you think Gustav did to keep them from tearing down his tower? Did he, A, build a wall around it, B, put a radio antenna on.

[Trusty]

Top of it, or C, hide a.

[Narrator]

Safe holding a million dollars somewhere inside of it? The answer is he put a radio antenna on top.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Suddenly, my tower was very valuable to the government because they could use it to send and receive messages, especially to soldiers in the military. Some say the Eiffel Tower helped win World War I by intercepting crucial enemy communications.

[Smarty Pants]

Whoa.

[Narrator]

I'm sure most people were thrilled that you could save such a valuable national symbol.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Not everybody. Before I even built the tower, 300 famous Parisians signed a petition trying to stop us from building it.

[Trusty]

Why?

[Gustave Eiffel]

They thought it was ugly. They called it a useless and monstrous tower. Monstrous. Can you believe it? Other critics called it a truly tragic street lamp. A gigantic black factory chimney, an odious column of bolted metal.

[Narrator]

One famous author even began eating his lunch every day at the cafe directly under the tower because it was the one place in the City that he couldn't see it.

[Gustave Eiffel]

That hurts. But c' est la vie. Second level, 400ft up. You know, if you wanted too trusty inside, instead of riding the elevator, you could have climbed about 750 steps to get here.

[Narrator]

I'm good.

[Gustave Eiffel]

In the old days, I'd climb a spiral staircase the 600ft from here to the top. Talk about windy. That was a good way to lose your beret. The spiral stairs have since been removed.

[Narrator]

You know, Gustav, for some reason, I.

[Trusty]

Always thought the Eiffel Tower was black.

[Narrator]

But it's not.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Nope. Today it's a color they literally call Eiffel Tower brown. And guess what? They actually paint it in three different shades, getting slightly lighter as they go up. Oddly enough, they painted three different shades so it doesn't look like it gradually changes color.

[Narrator]

Huh?

[Gustave Eiffel]

It's because of how the silhouette looks against the colors of the sky.

[Trusty]

Weird.

[Narrator]

But wait, you said today it's brown. Was it a different color before?

[Gustave Eiffel]

No, it was six different colors before. Since 1899, they repainted the whole thing every seven years. Trying different colors because why not painting.

[Narrator]

The entire Eiffel Tower? Sure. Must take a lot of paint.

[Gustave Eiffel]

60 tons, to be exact. And it takes about three years to complete the job. So, yeah, it's not a weekend project. But keeping a fresh coat of paint on the tower helps prevent it from rusting away.

[Narrator]

Let's see. Today the Eiffel Tower is brown. And years ago it was yellow. But what color was it when it was first constructed? Any ideas, smarty pants? I'll give you a hint. The French flag is red, white, and blue. It's one of those three. Did you say Le Bleu? Great guess, but it was actually red. Imagine a huge red Eiffel Tower. That's actually pretty cool.

[Gustave Eiffel]

That's the thing about the Eiffel Tower. It's constantly changing in one way or another. For example, did you know that right now it's probably a few inches taller than when we first started talking?

[Narrator]

It's growing. That's crazy.

[Chet Nickerson]

How?

[Gustave Eiffel]

I'll tell you.

[Narrator]

Yes, you will.

[Trusty]

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[Narrator]

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[Trusty]

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[Narrator]

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[Trusty]

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[Narrator]

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[Trusty]

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[Narrator]

Now back to whosmarted. My new friend, Gustave Eiffel, who, along with some unnamed friends, built the Eiffel Tower. Just said the Eiffel Tower is somehow magically growing. So how is that?

[Gustave Eiffel]

Over the course of a day, the tower will often grow 6 inches and then shrink back to its original size again.

[Narrator]

What could be causing the tower to grow and shrink, smarty pants? Is it the weight of the tourists, heat from the sun, or constant snacking?

[Gustave Eiffel]

Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom.

[Narrator]

The answer, of course, is heat from the sun. Thanks to something called thermal expansion, the tower's metal parts expand when they get hot and shrink when they cool off, causing the tower to grow slightly taller and shorter.

[Gustave Eiffel]

All right, we've reached the 984. Off with Mark. Trusty narrator. We've made it to the top.

[Narrator]

You weren't kidding about it being windy up here, Gustav. It feels like the tower might be blowing over.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Relax. It's all a part of the tower's design. It'll sway up to five inches back and forth in high winds. But trust me, Trusty, it's not going anywhere.

[Narrator]

If you say so.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Now follow me for one more cool surprise.

[Smarty Pants]

Whoa.

[Narrator]

Is this an apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower?

[Gustave Eiffel]

Indeed. It was once my private apartment where I hosted famous people of my day, like inventor Thomas Edison. Wow, this is some view on a clear day. They say you can see 50 miles in every direction. And check this out. Welcome to my laboratory.

[Smarty Pants]

Cool.

[Gustave Eiffel]

I conducted all kinds of experiments here. For example, I built a wind tunnel so I could study how aerodynamics affect airplanes and automobiles. I also used my lab for astronomy and physics experiments. In fact, it was an experiment here at the top of the Eiffel Tower that led to the discovery of cosmic rays.

[Narrator]

That's incredible.

[Gustave Eiffel]

Gustav and I have one last surprise.

[Narrator]

Watch.

[Smarty Pants]

Whoa.

[Narrator]

Look at all those twinkling lights.

[Gustave Eiffel]

The tower is covered with 20,000 light bulbs, which twinkle every hour on the hour for five minutes. It took 25 mountain climbers five months to install them.

[Narrator]

No wonder they call Paris the City of Light. Say, can we take a selfie together here at the top of the Eiffel Tower?

[Gustave Eiffel]

Of course.

[Narrator]

Say cheese. On second thought, let's take a break from the cheese.

[Trusty]

A smarty sibling shout out to Penn and Rose in Thorndale, Ontario. You told us who Smarted is the one podcast all siblings can agree on and that makes long trips to hockey tournaments more fun and less fighty. I'd call that a big win for everyone. Thanks for smarting with us, you two.

[Narrator]

This episode the Eiffel Tower was written by Steve Macaron Melcher and voiced by Tea Escargot Garland, Adam Fritz Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Le Hamburger Hahn, who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our Associate producer is Max Khokovine Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suvid Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis, who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.