Gustave Eiffel

Gustave Eiffel: Art of Metal Structures VOL. III is the third and final book in the Gustave Eiffel Exploration Series. These three books cover the entire North, Central and South American Continent in the quest to discover original iron structures designed and built by the French engineer. This book contains original full-colour photo illustrations-taken by the author himself-which do justice to the intricate iron structures and to the ornamental details of Eiffel’s monuments. The societal components of Eiffel’s bridges and railway stations are that they functioned to permit the movement of travelers and commercial goods from one point to the next. A good number of Eiffel’s bridges and viaducts were built exclusively for rail use, thus helping to expand the national infrastructure of many South American countries. In fact, many of these bridges and rail stations are still in use today and continue to have an impact on the lives of those who use them. The Bolivar Bridge of Arequipa, Peru, is fairly simple in design yet extremely graceful; it has been in use since 1879. The Farol de Sao Tome, in Campos, Brazil, is a metallic lighthouse that indicates the existence of danger at sea and also provides guidance to navigators on the location of land. It was made by Eiffel in a non-corrosive metal and this is why the Farol de Sao Tome is still in such good shape; it has functioned regularly since 1882. The Cape of St. Tom is a difficult place to navigate due to its submerged rocks which spread 28 kilometres (15 miles) out to sea. The Farol de Sao Tome has undoubtedly saved professional and recreational mariners alike from shipwreck and loss of life. The Santa Barbara Church of Santa Rosalia, Mexico, was designed by Eiffel as a prototype for missionary churches intended for France’s colonies in Indochina. The good people of Santa Rosalia lost their church in a fire in 1878. For a number of years, religious ceremonies were held in various locations. In 1889 this galvanized metal structure was put on display in the Paris Exposition to attract potential customers. A benevolent Santa Rosalia citizen learned of the structure, purchased it, had it disassembled, shipped and then reassembled in Santa Rosalia, to the benefit of the townsfolk. This photo-journal book provides many and varied examples of Eiffel’s iron structures which are imbued with social character and cultural significance.