Timeline of the Eiffel Tower

1832 — Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel born in Dijon, France

1884 — Eiffel completes internal skeleton for the Statue of Liberty

1886 — Contest announced to create tower entrance to 1889 Exposition Universelle

1887 — Eiffel wins contest and construction of tower begins

1889 — Exposition Universelle in Paris opens; Eiffel Tower opens to the public

1898 — First radio transmission is sent from the tower

1905 — First stair-climbing contest is held on the tower

1908 — French military uses the tower to send and receive radio messages

1910 — Paris officials sign contract allowing the tower to remain permanently

1915-1918 — Tower closed during World War I

1921 — First live radio program broadcast from the tower

1923 — Eiffel dies

1936 — Television antenna installed on top of tower

1940-1945 — Tower closed for World War II

1952 — First television program broadcast from the tower

1981-1982 — Renovations made to the tower

1989 — Philippe Petit walks on a wire across the Seine to second level of tower

2014 — Transparent first floor added to the tower