b"The lifts weren\\u2019t operational, so there weren\\u2019t any visitors, but the commemorative coins had already been minted - so it was 6th May, 1889 that went down in history as the official opening of the Eiffel Tower, at that time the world\\u2019s tallest man-made structure.\\nErected for the World\\u2019s Fair to commemorate 100 years since the French Revolution, it was designed to be dismantled after a few years - not least because there was significant opposition to it from some of Paris\\u2019s best known artists - yet it remains an iconic part of the Paris skyline to this day.\\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how the committee came to choose this unusual structure for their centennial celebrations; compare Gustav Eiffel\\u2019s elevated office space to Donald Trump\\u2019s; and explain how radio transmissions saved the Tower from its intended fate\\u2026\\xa0\\nFurther Reading:\\n\\u2022 \\u2018The artists who protested the Eiffel Tower\\u2019 (Tour Eiffel Official Website): https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/130-years/artists-who-protested-eiffel-tower\\n\\u2022 \\u2018Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment \\u2013 Paris, France\\u2019 (Atlas Obscura, 2006): https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gustave-eiffels-secret-apartment\\n\\u2022 \\u2018Deconstructing History: Eiffel Tower\\u2019 (History, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqHa1XJWODI\\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\\nWe'll be back on Monday! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\\xa0\\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices"