Paris: Then and Now

Revolution of Paris France 1900-2008 - Feel The Difference!

The Eiffel Tower was built for the French Revolution centennial 1889 Universal Exposition, as a "temporary" display of architectural engineering prowess but remained the world's tallest building until 1930, and is the city's best-known landmark, while the 1900 Universal Exposition saw the opening of the first Paris Métro line. Paris' World's Fairs also consolidated its position in the tourist industry and as an attractive setting for international technology and trade shows.

In 1900, William Henry Goodyear (Brooklyn Museum's first curator) traveled to the Paris for the World Exposition of that year, with photographer Joseph Hawkes. They brought back numerous images from the exposition including street life, vistas, pavilions, statues, and other structures and decorative details. We took some of those pictures and compared them with today's Paris. Enjoy!