History Shorts - 3

I've decided to look up a few tidbits about history. No special topic, just history in general. I hope it's something that will peak some interest.

1. Eiffel Tower - was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the celebrated monument. Construction began in January of 1887 and was completed in only two years. Their plan was to finish the tower in time to be the entrance arch for the World’s Fair in 1889. This fair celebrated the 100 year anniversary of the French Revolution, which took place from 1789-1799.
   Located on the Champs de Mars, the tower is the tallest structure in Paris. It was the tallest manmade structure in the world for 41 years until the Chrysler Building in New York surpassed it. Then the spire atop the tower was added, raising its height to 17 feet taller than the Chrysler Building. It is now 1,063 feet tall! There are two replicas of the Eiffel Tower in the world: a half-scale model at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, and a full-ized monument of a similar (but not exact) design in Tokyo, Japan. http://www.kidzworld.com/article/28536-history-of-the-eiffel-tower

2. Tower of London - a medieval castle that has served many purposes. It was a royal residence, an exotic zoo, and was eventually turned into a prison! Let’s rewind and start from the beginning with William the Conqueror who was the Tower’s first resident. He built the castle in the 1070s as a place to stay when in London, as well as for protection, though the original castle was only two stories high!
   Next came William II, who built a stone wall around the castle in 1097, followed by Richard the Lionheart, who added a moat for extra safety during his reign (1189-1199)! The castle had a few more residents, including Kings Henry III and Edward I, who expanded the castle to look much like it does today. https://www.littlepassports.com/blog/travel/fun-facts-about-the-tower-of-london/

3. Independence Hall - Built between 1732 and 1753, Independence Hall, located in Philadelphia, was originally called the Pennsylvania State House. Independence Hall was the site of the meeting of the first Continental Congress, and the site of the signing of two of America’s most important documents: the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution. The nation’s most famous bell, the cracked Liberty Bell, rung from the towers of the building for 224 years (until 1976). Independence Hall is pictured on the back of the $100 bill and on the back of the 1976 Kennedy half-dollar. http://mrnussbaum.com/independence-hall/