Leaning Tower of Niles
Replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Leaning Tower of Niles is a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa located in Niles, Illinois. Designed by architect Albert L. Farr[1] and completed in 1934, it was commissioned by industrialist Robert Ilg as part of a recreation park for employees of the Ilg Hot Air Electric Ventilating Company of Chicago.[2][3] It is situated at 6300 W. Touhy Avenue.[4]
Leaning Tower of Niles | |
Location | 6280 W. Touhy Ave. Niles, Illinois |
---|---|
Built | 1934 |
Architect | Albert L. Farr |
NRHP reference No. | 100003645 |
Added to NRHP | 4/22/2019 |
Ilgair Park's pools and artificial lake needed a large water tank and pumping equipment to function, which Robert Ilg decided to hide by building a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa to house them.[1] In 1960, the descendants of Robert Ilg donated part of the park for the construction of the Leaning Tower YMCA.[3] Other amenities of the employees' recreational park included a wooden toboggan run, which was in decay but still visible in the 1960s.
A study in 2014 concluded that the Leaning Tower of Niles is in need of about $600,000 in repairs.[5]
On November 17, 2015, the Niles Village Board approved a proposal for the village to purchase the Leaning Tower from the YMCA for $10. The Board also approved a contract to spend $550,000 to repair and renovate the building.[6]
On March 15, 2016, Niles voters passed a non-binding referendum approving of the village spending the money to renovate the tower.[7]
The Leaning Tower of Niles contains five bells. Three of the bells were cast in Cavezzo, Italy, in 1623, 1735 and 1747.[8] How they came to be included in the tower is not known.[9]
The tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.[10]