A diagram showing how much higher the Eiffel Tower was in comparison to other world-famous tall buildings when it was constructed in 1889. Even the spires of Cologne and Old St. Paul's cathedral are dwarfed by its immense height which was almost 1000 feet. Inset is a portrait of its creator, French engineer, Gustave Eiffel. The Eiffel Tower was built as a centrepiece to the Paris International Exhibition. Despite many detractors initially, the building was a huge success and is today an iconic symbol of Paris and France.