What happened May 1889 AD

There was still work to be done, especially on the lifts and facilities, and the tower was not opened to the public until 6 May; the lifts had not been completed even then.

The tower was an instant success with the public, and nearly 30,000 visitors made the 1,710-step climb to the top before the lifts entered service on 26 May. Tickets cost 2 francs for the first level, 3 for the second, and 5 for the top, with half-price admission on Sundays, and by the end of the exhibition there had been 1,896,987 visitors.