Engineer Gustave Eiffel designed, financed, and oversaw the construction of the iron-latticework tower that marked the entrance to the 1889 world's fair in Paris. Though Parisians scoffed at the unusual structure before its completion, both residents and visitors soon shared its creator's love for the distinctive Eiffel Tower. Disturbed that officials would allow it to stand for only 20 years, Eiffel searched for ways to save the landmark by making it invaluable. First, he equipped it with an advanced weather station. Next, he added a wind tunnel for testing airplane parts. Finally, a wireless broadcasting facility on the tower made it indispensable to the French military. Combining a practical approach with ingenuity and persistence, Eiffel had saved his iconic tower for future generations. The engaging narrative builds tension as Eiffel attacks the problem of saving his tower as he would an engineering challenge, trying one approach after another until finally, cleverly, he succeeds.

With varied compositions and a rich yet subtle palette, the illustrations work seamlessly with the text, while portraying the man within a beautiful period setting. One of the few picture-book biographies celebrating the work of an engineer, this volume tells the little-known story of a man who left his mark upon the world.