Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was originally intended to be a temporary structure, built as the centerpiece for the 1889 World's Fair. Its permit allowed it to stand for only twenty years, after which it was scheduled for dismantling and sale as scrap metal. Gustave Eiffel saved his creation by championing its utility for scientific experiments, specifically promoting it as a vital station for meteorological observations and the new, burgeoning field of wireless telegraphy. This pivot to a functional role proved so successful for military and communications purposes that the city eventually granted it a permanent place on the skyline.