The Eiffel Tower is the ultimate symbol of Paris, but did you know it was almost built in Barcelona? When Gustave Eiffel pitched his 330-meter iron masterpiece for the 1889 Universal Exposition, he first offered it to Barcelona for their 1888 World’s Fair. The city’s officials thought the design was too ugly and “out of place” for their streets, so they turned it down. Paris swooped in, and the rest is history—literally!

Eiffel’s tower wasn’t just a pretty (or not-so-pretty) face—it was a bold engineering flex. At the time, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world, beating out the Washington Monument by nearly 150 meters. It took just over two years to build, using more than 18,000 individual iron pieces and 2.5 million rivets. Despite early criticism—some Parisians called it an “eyesore”—it became a global icon, drawing millions every year. Fun fact: the tower sways up to 7 inches in strong winds, but it’s designed to handle it!

Barcelona might’ve missed out, but Paris turned a rejected idea into a masterpiece. Next time you’re snapping a pic of the Eiffel Tower, remember it was a second-choice star. Got a friend who loves history? Share this reel-worthy fact and come back for more trivia on ReelFact!