Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/10-famous-landmarks-that-nearly-didnt-get-built/

Some of the world’s most beloved structures have one thing in common that nobody talks about enough. They almost never happened. From furious petitions and financial collapse to wartime destruction and political sabotage, the road to iconic status was anything but smooth for these ten famous landmarks. The stories behind them are more dramatic, more human, and honestly more surprising than most people realize.

So let’s get started.

1. The Eiffel Tower, Paris: The “Monstrous” Iron Lady Nobody Wanted

1. The Eiffel Tower, Paris: The “Monstrous” Iron Lady Nobody Wanted (Image Credits: Flickr)

Here’s the thing about the Eiffel Tower. It is arguably the most recognizable structure on Earth today, yet before a single rivet was driven in, the most celebrated minds in France were publicly begging for it to be stopped. On February 14, 1887, the famous “Protest against the Tower of Monsieur Eiffel” was published in Le Temps newspaper, calling on those responsible for the Exhibition to put a stop to it. The letter was signed by major names in the artistic and literary world, including composer Charles Gounod, writers Guy de Maupassant and Alexandre Dumas (son), and poet François Coppée, as well as classical architects like Charles Garnier, who designed the Opéra Garnier.

Originally intended as a temporary installation, the Eiffel Tower’s creator only received a 20-year land-use permit for it. Since Eiffel footed roughly four-fifths of the tower’s…

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Author : Matthias Binder

Publish date : 2026-02-18 14:26:00

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