World famous now, the Eiffel Tower was a breath-taking novelty in March 31, 1889, when it was the centerpiece of the World’s Fair in Paris. (AFP / Getty Images)
One of about 25 workers applies a coat to the tangled latticework of the Eiffel Tower in a job that will take about 18 months and require about 66 tons of patented, signature “Eiffel Tower brown” paint and 31 miles of climbing rope. (Francois Mori / Associated Press)
On the Eiffel Tower’s birthday, a painter takes on a job that is done every seven years: painting the emblem of Paris. The work takes about 18 months, with about 25 painters still working with small, circular brushes, as they did in 1889, instead of sprayers or paint-rollers. (Patrick Kovarik / AFP / Getty Images)
Tthe Eiffel Tower as seen from the Champ de Mars in Paris is a familiar sight, although in the past the tower has been painted red, orange and yellow. It’s maintained a signature brown color, which overseers say best accents the Paris skyline, since 1968. (Lucas Dolega / EPA)
A person performs a dance in front of the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero in Paris on the 120th anniversary of the emblematic structure. (Lucas Dolega / EPA)
Tourists queue to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris on its birthday Tuesday. More than 200,000,000 people have visited the tower since it was built in 1889. (Lucas Dolega / EPA)
The Eiffel Tower has attracted folks from all over and has been ranked as the most visited paid monument in the world. (Lucas Dolega / EPA)
In the City of Light, nothing shines brighter than the Eiffel Tower. (Muhammed Muheisen / Associated Press)
