On the tower's inauguration, the lifts were not yet in operation and Prime Minister Tirard, aged 62, stopped at the first platform, 57 m (187 ft) up, letting his younger Minister of Commerce continue to the top to present Gustave Eiffel with the Legion of Honor medal.
The Minister of Commerce was to the top in order to meet Gustave Eiffel.
Gustave Eiffel meet the government representatives 3 years after the tower's inauguration.