In 1900, the Eiffel Tower became the first major monument to replace its gas lamps with electric lighting.

When Gustave Eiffel completed the tower for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, it relied on over 10,000 gas burners to illuminate the structure at night. However, for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, the tower underwent a massive technological upgrade to showcase the power of electricity. This transition was a pivotal moment in the 'War of Currents' and helped prove to the public that electric light was safer and more reliable than gas.The 1900 electrification project involved installing 5,000 incandescent light bulbs across the tower's facade. Engineers had to navigate the complex lattice of 18,038 iron parts to secure the wiring. This installation made the Eiffel Tower a literal beacon of the 'Belle Époque' and a symbol of modern industrial progress.Since then, the lighting system has evolved through several iterations, including the 1985 renovation by Pierre Bideau which placed lights inside the structure. In 2003, the current sparkling effect was created using 20,000 xenon bulbs, which were later replaced by high-efficiency LEDs. These modern LEDs reduce energy consumption by approximately 75% compared to previous systems while maintaining the tower's iconic glow.