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Informationen zum Autor Dina Anastasio is the author of Pirates , Apollo 13 , Flipper Junior Novelizations , A Question of Time , and many other books for children. Klappentext Learn about the Eiffel Tower, beloved and iconic symbol of Paris, France, and one of the most recognizable structures in the world! When the plans for the Eiffel Tower were first announced, many people hated the design of the future landmark, calling it ungainly and out of step with the beautiful stone buildings of the city. But once it went up for the World's Fair in 1889, the people of Paris quickly fell in love with the tower. Today it seems impossible to imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, which greets millions of visitors each year who climb up its wrought-iron stairs, ride its glass elevators, and enjoy the wonderful views of the city spread out below it. This book, part of the New York Times best-selling series, is enhanced by eighty illustrations and a detachable fold-out map complete with four photographs on the back. Where Is the Eiffel Tower? On March 31, 1889, Gustave Eiffel climbed 1,710 steps to the top of his new tower. He attached the striped blue, white, and red French flag to the flagpole. The flag fluttered in the wind. He looked down. The entire city of Paris, France, spread out 934 feet below him. He watched the boats moving back and forth along the Seine River that flows through the center of the city. Across the river, on the right bank, people were strolling along the wide boulevard toward the limestone Arc de Triomphe monument. Others were relaxing on benches in the gardens near the Louvre Museum. Farther up the river, Gustave could view Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest stone buildings. Next to his tower, on the river’s left bank, a world’s fair called the Exposition Universelle was getting ready for its May 6 opening day. Hundreds of thousands of visitors were expected. Artists and inventors would exhibit their newest creations. Merchants from all over the world would demonstrate their latest products. Gustave Eiffel’s tower would be the entrance to the fair. Gustave walked down the stairs. At the bottom, the men who had worked on the tower were waiting. So were Paris dignitaries and reporters. Gustave thanked all the workers. It had been two years, two months, and five days since they dug the first hole. During that time, Parisians had watched Gustave’s wrought-iron tower rise higher and higher. Now it was the tallest structure in the world. Many critics called it a monstrosity. A giant, ugly smokestack. On May 6, when the fair opened, the public would see—and decide—for themselves. It is doubtful that very many people at that time expected the Eiffel Tower to become one of the most famous landmarks anywhere on earth. CHAPTER 1: Opening Day The fair opened on a beautiful, cool spring day. An enormous crowd of people from France and other parts of the world waited. Shortly after two o’clock in the afternoon, the French president pushed a button. Three fountains lit by electric lights spewed forth water from the ground beside the tower. The crowds cheered. For more than two years, Parisians had seen this strange metal creation rise. They knew that its giant legs faced north, south, east, and west, like the points of a compass. They had read about the delicate lattice ironwork and other details. They had heard about the four restaurants that would serve wonderful food, and the observation deck at the very top. Today was the day! Finally they would be able to examine the whole tower not only from the outside, but from the inside, too. They could ride the elevators all the way to the top . . . Except the elevators weren’t working. Even worse, the stairs weren’t ready for the publ...
