Original Eiffel Tower staircase up for auction

Ditch the typical Paris trinket and instead own a piece of history – a section of the Eiffel Tower’s iconic staircase is soon to be auctioned.

This 25-step, 4-meter spiral staircase was part of the tower’s original design when it was unveiled at the 1889 World’s Fair.

Designed by the renowned French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower was created for the 1889 Paris Exposition.

The Eiffel Tower was crafted by French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Paris Exposition. Photo: General Photographic Agency/Getty Images

The helix-shaped staircase, once a key link between the second and third levels, remained part of the Eiffel Tower until 1983 when elevators were added.

Other sections of the Eiffel Tower’s original staircase are on display at two Parisian museums: the Musée d’Orsay and the Cité des Sciences. A further piece can be found at the Musée de l’Histoire du Fer in eastern France.

A piece of the Eiffel Tower’s historic staircase is showcased outside the Artcurial auction house in Paris.

A section of the Eiffel Tower’s original staircase is displayed outside the Artcurial auction house in Paris. Photo: PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images

Beyond Paris, you can find more pieces of the Eiffel Tower’s staircase at the Yoishii Foundation gardens in Yamanashi, Japan, and near the Statue of Liberty in New York.