Exploits at the Eiffel Tower

Extract from a letter published in February 14, 1887 in "Le Temps"

Artistic marginality has disturbed forever!

"(…) We protest with all our strength, all our indignation, (…) against the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower, (…) It is this horror that the French people have found (…) a vertiginously ridiculous tower dominating Paris, (…) a gigantic factory chimney (…) an obnoxious column of bolted sheet steel (…) if Paris persists in the idea of dishonour Paris (…)"

40 remarkable achievements at the Eiffel Tower 1889-2010

1889
From the second floor, “Le Figaro” prints its daily newspaper.
1901
Santos-Dumont, with his airship, passes several times over the Tower and receives a prize.
1905
Championship of ascent to the 1st floor with 277 competitors.
1909
With a Wright plane made of canvas and wood, the Count of Lambert bypasses the Tower.
1912
François Reichelt with a large coat as a parachute crashes to the ground from the 1st floor.
1921
First abseiling from the Tower.
1923
The journalist Pierre Labri makes a real triumph with his bike descent from the 1st floor.
1925
For several years, André Citroën uses the Eiffel Tower to organise the advertisement of his company.
1926
Léon Collot in passing under the Eiffel Tower by plane touches antennas and kills himself.
1948
The oldest elephant in the world aged 85 years old, goes up to the first floor.
1952
Rose Gold makes a trapeze show without a net from the 2nd floor.
1964
Guido Magnone and René Desmaison climb the monument with Eurovision live broadcasting.
1969
On the 2nd floor, a bear from the Moscow Circus slides on an installed ice rink.
1977
Arnold Palmer strikes golf balls from the 2nd floor.
1978
Ascension to the 3rd floor by the climbers Christian Ferer and Gérard Bourbon.
1983
Charles Coutard and Joël Descuns go up the Tower with mountain bikes.
1984
The couple Amanda Tucker and Mike MacCarthy, BASE - jumps from the 3rd floor.
1987
A.J. Hackett, makes a long bungee jump from inside the 2nd floor.
1989
The tightrope walker Philippe Petit, goes on his cable from Trocadéro up to the 2nd floor.
1991
Erich Beaud and Dominique Charon, BASE – jump the Tower.
1991
Thierry Devaux carries out six acrobatic bungee jumps from the 2nd floor.
1995
The triathlete Yves Lossouarn, beats the ascent on foot record in 8min 51s.
1997
«After all, the Eiffel Tower is only a big ladder!» declares Alain Robert when climbing down from the 3rd floor at night  by -10 °C.     
1997
 From the 1st floor, a British stuntman BASE - jumps.
1997
In reference to the polar expeditions, the 1st floor welcomes an ice floe with auks.
1998
Hugues Richard beats the record of ascent with a mountain bike up to the 2nd floor.
1999
Julien Caniqueau BASE - jumps the Tower.
2001
Julien Caniqueau BASE - jumps a second time with three other parachutists.
2001
Aitor Sarasua Zumeta beats the mountain bike record established by Hugues Richard.
2001
Record for the ascent of the 1’300 steps by Xavier Casas.
2004
Hervé Le Gallou and eight other BASE-jumpers, jump off the Tower.
2005
Jérôme Sue goes down the 345 steps from the 1st floor in a wheelchair.
2005
A Norwegian kills himself at night BASE-jumping from the 2nd floor.
2006
Johan Vervoort BASE-jumps one year to the day after the fatal jump of the Norwegian.
 2006
Yoggi unicycles up to the 2nd floor without putting a foot down.
2007
22 Greenpeace activists climb the Tower and display three banners above the 2nd floor.
2008
Ueli Gegenschatz BASE-jumps from 3rd to advertise a drink.
2008
15 Greenpeace activists climb the Tower and install a banner between the 1st and the 2nd floor.
2010
Taïg Khris beats the world roller-skates jump record from the 1st floor.