The Eiffel Tower is 126 years old, as of 2015, and was constructed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel in 1889 for the World's Fair. Though not particularly well-received at the time, the Eiffel Tower now stands as one of the most popular paid tourist attractions in the world.
The Eiffel Tower has survived multiple destruction attempts; it was nearly scrapped in 1909 by Paris city officials, who backed off after seeing its practical use as a radiotelegraph station. Adolf Hitler ordered the landmark torn down during World War II, but the command was never executed. It is now widely recognized as a French symbol and attracts around 7 million visitors per year. It requires a staff of 500 for its continued operation.