Gustave Eiffel's Hidden Role in the Statue of Liberty Revealed

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Gustave Eiffel's passing (1832-1923), highlighting his contribution to the internal iron structure of the Statue of Liberty, crafted by his workshop. After a visit to the site in 1879, sculptor Auguste Bartholdi enlisted Eiffel’s help for the statue's robust framework, measuring 46 meters. With the assistance of Maurice Koechlin, Eiffel constructed the spine in his Paris workshop, finishing in May 1884. Although tensions arose between Bartholdi and Eiffel regarding design versus engineering, Eiffel did not participate in the 1886 unveiling. The Eiffel Tower, which has been repainted twenty times, was saved from being torn down in 1909 and now welcomes 6 million visitors each year. Notable projects by Eiffel include the Garabit viaduct and Budapest's Nyugati station.