A light show illuminates the Eiffel Tower for its 130 year anniversary, in Paris, Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Paris is wishing the Eiffel Tower a happy birthday with an elaborate laser show retracing the monument鈥檚 130-year history. (AP)
PARIS 鈥� Paris wished the Eiffel Tower a happy birthday Wednesday with an elaborate nighttime laser show retracing the monument鈥檚 130-year history.
Earlier in the day, the monument invited 1,300 children to a giant 鈥渟nack time鈥� beneath the tower known as the Iron Lady.
After nightfall, a 12-minute laser display began flashing across the facade in shows that will run through Friday night. Professional climbers scaled the monument to mount the lights for the unprecedented show.
Around 6 million people go up the tower every year, in addition to the crowds who just come to look at Gustave Eiffel鈥檚 creation, designed for the 1889 World鈥檚 Fair. It was the world鈥檚 tallest monument at the time, and thanks to strict urban planning rules, it still looms large above the Paris skyline.
The Eiffel Tower opened to the public for the first time on May 15, 1889, several days after its inauguration at the World鈥檚 Fair.