Most People Don T Know Illinois Has Its Very Own Leaning Tower Of Pisa

Being from a newer country, Americans marvel at the old world architecture in countries like Italy. So much so, in fact, that we sometimes replicate their works. In the 1930s in Niles, a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was erected, giving the town a landmark of their very own.

Just as a reminder, this is what the Leaning Tower of Pisa looks like.

Bob Hall/Flickr It’s about 186 feet tall. Work began on the tower in 1173, and it took 199 years to complete it.

Here’s Niles’s tower. Looks very similar, right?

Ken Lund/Flickr Though the structure looks very much the same as the one in Pisa, it is a half-size replica.

It was completed in 1934 as part of a park for Ilg Hot Air Electric Ventilating Company of Chicago employees.

Lawrence Kestenbaum/Flickr The structure was built to be a water tower for the nearby swimming pools.

In 1960, the tower was donated to the local YMCA.

Leaning Tower YMCA/Facebook The organization was then named after the structure, and is called Leaning Tower YMCA to this day.

The Village of Niles purchased the tower from the YMCA for $10 in 2015.

Subham Kumar Saha/Google+ It was determined that over $600,000 in repairs were needed.

Last year, the town passed a referendum approving the renovations.

Bogdan Stepniak/Google+ The restoration process has begun to bring the building back to its former glory.

Have you visited this structure? Let us know in the comments.

Bob Hall/Flickr

It’s about 186 feet tall. Work began on the tower in 1173, and it took 199 years to complete it.

Ken Lund/Flickr

Though the structure looks very much the same as the one in Pisa, it is a half-size replica.

Lawrence Kestenbaum/Flickr

The structure was built to be a water tower for the nearby swimming pools.

Leaning Tower YMCA/Facebook

The organization was then named after the structure, and is called Leaning Tower YMCA to this day.

Subham Kumar Saha/Google+

It was determined that over $600,000 in repairs were needed.

Bogdan Stepniak/Google+

The restoration process has begun to bring the building back to its former glory.

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