So you can’t afford to make the long journey to Italy to take a look at the Leaning Tower of Pisa like you always wanted to do? Well, have I got a sub-par solution for you! It’s called the Leaning Tower of Niles and it is a replica of the original that sits just outside of Chicago. It may not be Italian, or even the right size, but it’s still kind of impressive none-the-less.
This mini-leaning tower was constructed back in 1934, exactly 600 years after the genuine tower in Pisa was erected. It was designed as part of a park for employees at an air conditioning company. It seems a strange thing to put in an employee park, for sure, but apparently someone thought it was a great idea. Named after the city that it was built in, Niles, it has since become a rather popular tourist attraction.
The tower itself is just a little over half the size of the original in Pisa, at 94 feet. It also only has half the tilt of the original, though this is probably best for everyone involved (particularly the engineers who designed it). But the tower is more than just an idle decoration, for it does serve a practical purpose. Unlike the one in Italy, this leaning tower is also a water tower, providing liquid for two nearby swimming pools.
Since its original construction, the site has been spiced up a bit in order to draw in more tourists and now has a pool, fountains and carefully landscaped surroundings. The tower even managed to get recognized by the city of Pisa and the two are now considered sister cities. If odd-ball American attractions are your thing, the Leaning Tower of Niles is definitely one for the list. And since you’ll be in Illinois anyway, check out the official tourism site and see what else they have to offer that you might like.
Leaning Tower of Niles courtesy of Miroslaw Mucha
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