The Grand World Expo of 1889 in Paris: A Beacon of Innovation and Controversy

1. The World Exposition of 1889 in Paris.

2. Why have a World Exposition? • Each universal exposition was a showcase from the middle of the 19th century for French technical and scientific progress • Before the 1889 exposition, there had been others: 1855, 1867 and 1878

3. 1889 • 1789 was the year which saw the Storming of the Bastille and the start of the French Revolution. • 1889 – The French Revolution celebrated its centenary and France wanted to commemorate this with a World Expo.

4. Where would the Expo be held? • In all it covered 96 hectares • le Champs de Mars • le Trocadéro • le quai d'Orsay • A part of the Seine river • The Esplanade in front of Les Invalides. • On the right, the Champs de Mars.

5. How did the French feel about this? • The French were not at all in agreement with celebrating the Revolution. • Even worse, the majority of countries invited were monarchies. They certainly did not want to encourage a celebration that commemorated a revolution! • Consequently the international profile of the Expo was a little « fragile » during the preparations for the event.

6. The participants? • Nevertheless, some countries wanted to participate indirectly in the Expo. • Greece • Japan • Serbia • Persia • Siam (now Thailand) • Turkey • Russia • The majority of Latin American countries.

7. Attractions? • What could be done to attract people? • You could offer “a magic garden” in “fairyland” ? • World Expo not only offered this but also much more

8. A special attraction. • To be assured of an international customer base, there had to be an attraction that was « different ». • An architectural competition was organised. • More than 107 entrants suggested projects that were varied and even weird. • One of them was for an enormous guillotine 30 metres in height!

9. The Eiffel Tower • The supreme symbol for the 1889 Expo was obviously the Eiffel Tower. • However, the Tower was not really liked by the Parisians. • A petition from 47 famous artists called it « a useless and monstrous building. » • They demanded that work should be stopped on the Tower.

10. An unworthy monument. • People thought that the Eiffel Tower had no place on the Parisian landscape beside other, more noble, monuments.

11. Electricity. • Expo 1889 introduced a important innovation: the use of electricity • Bridges • Gardens • Pavilions • And the Eiffel Tower were all illuminated. • The Eiffel Tower was literally enveloped in light rays • It had a very powerful light at its top (see the photo at the right)

12. Modern life. • The introduction of electricity changed visitors’ habits. • You could visit the Expo at night • The opening hours were extended to midnight • It marked the beginning of modern urban life.

13. Gustav Eiffel • Mr. Eiffel had an office at the top of the tower, where he went to work every day. • He had an immense pride in the project, which lasted for the rest of his life.

14. La Galerie des Machines • This is «  la galerie des machines », which no longer exists, for it was demolished in 1910-1911.

15. La Galerie de Machines • The huge building was 420 metres long, 115 metres wide and 43 metres high! • It was one of the biggest building in existence and, at the time, had a greater importance than the Eiffel Tower.

16. Fashion. • What would you wear going to the Expo? • Here’s a picture from « Figaro Exposition 1889 » – the English version. • A lady dressed up to her nines is visiting the Expo.

17. Facts and figures 1. • Expo accounts • Expenses : 41 500 000 Fr • Receipts : 49 500 000 Fr • Profits : 8 000 000 Fr • An entry ticket

18. Facts and figures 2 • Number of visitors : 28 000 000 • Number of exhibitors : 61 722