This 1889 photograph by the Neurdein brothers captures an elegant dining area within the Eiffel Tower during the Exposition Universelle.

The Neurdein brothers, renowned French photographers, documented this global event, which drew over 32 million visitors to Paris. The image showcases a sophisticated space with arched ironwork, waitstaff, and patrons, reflecting the tower’s role as a hub of activity.

Initially met with criticism as an eyesore, the tower housed exhibits and dining options, nearly facing demolition after the fair but was saved for its emerging use in telecommunications.

The 75-hectare exposition, which spanned the Seine, featured 61,000 exhibitors and cemented Paris’s status as a center of innovation in this era.

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