The tallest structure in Paris, the Eiffel Tower, built beside the River Seins, is one of the most recognized monuments in the world. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris in 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. It is said that out of the 700 design proposals that were submitted in a design competition, the one proposed by Eiffel was the unanimous choice. The construction began on January 26, 1887 and ended on March 31, 1889. It was the tallest structure in the world until the Empire State Building came up about 40 years later.