Leaning Tower of Niles facts for kids
The Leaning Tower of Niles is a famous landmark in Niles, Illinois. It's a smaller copy of the well-known Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. This unique tower was finished in 1934.
An industrialist named Robert Ilg built the tower. He wanted it to be part of a fun park for his company's workers. The park belonged to the Ilg Hot Air Electric Ventilating Company of Chicago. You can find the tower at 6300 W. Touhy Avenue.
Some people think the tower was built to celebrate the 600th birthday of the original Leaning Tower of Pisa. But it was probably built for a practical reason: to hold water for swimming pools in the park. In 1960, Robert Ilg's family gave part of the park to build the Leaning Tower YMCA. The park also had a wooden slide for sledding, which was still there in the 1960s.
The Leaning Tower of Niles has five bells inside. Three of these bells are very old, possibly hundreds of years old. They are thought to have been made in Italy. How they ended up in the tower is a mystery!
In 2020, the tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Repairing the Tower
In 2014, a study showed that the Leaning Tower of Niles needed repairs. These repairs were estimated to cost about $600,000.
On November 17, 2015, the Niles Village Board decided to buy the tower. They bought it from the YMCA for just $10! The Board also agreed to spend $550,000 to fix and improve the building.
On March 15, 2016, people in Niles voted on the plan. They approved the village spending money to renovate the tower.
A Symbol for Niles
In 1991, the village of Niles, Illinois, became a sister city with Pisa, Italy. This was a special connection because of their leaning towers.
From 1995 to 1996, the Leaning Tower of Niles got a big makeover. Mayor Nicholas Blase and the Board of Trustees started a $1.2 million renovation. This project improved the tower's structure and its outside look. The area around the tower, called the Plaza, was also updated. It now has four fountains and a 30-foot pool.
The tower is a very important symbol for the village. You can see pictures of it on the village's website and in their publications. Since the 1990s, the village has also hosted the Leaning Tower Concert Series. These are outdoor music concerts held during the summer.
See also
In Spanish: Torre inclinada de Niles para niños
