A taste of Italy: The Leaning Tower of Niles

Nestled away in the northwest suburbs lies one of Chicagoland’s most peculiar tourist attractions, the Leaning Tower of Niles. Given its rather mundane surroundings, the tower sticks out like a decorative sore thumb. So just how did this ode to Italy come to be in the heart of the Midwest?

 A half-sized replica of Italy’s famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, development on the Leaning Tower of Niles began in 1931. The project was driven by local businessman, Robert Ilg, who owned a since-defunct 22-acre park known as Ilgair Park.

The park featured two expansive outdoor pools that required a substantial water supply, necessitating the construction of a large water tank.

Wanting to preserve the park’s natural beauty, Ilg decided to disguise the water tower within a life-like reproduction of the iconic Italian tower.

 By 1960, Ilg’s descendants donated a portion of the park for the construction of the Leaning Tower YMCA.

The tower was turned over to the Niles YMCA with the promise that a minimum of $500 a month would be used annually to upkeep it until 2059.

However, the proposed budget proved to be insufficient as the tower began showing signs of aging with cracks in the concrete.

 Recognizing the tower’s condition, the Village of Niles took significant steps to preserve this local treasure. In 1991, a sister city relationship was established with Pisa, Italy.

By 1995, the village leased the tower from the YMCA and embarked on an ambitious $1.2 million renovation project.

The restoration included concrete repairs, additions of new lights to all eight floors, a reflecting pool, a telephone booth and newly landscaped areas.

The Leaning Tower of Niles achieved further recognition when the National Park Service nominated it for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places on the week of April 12, 2019. The nomination was granted, affirming the tower’s significance and its standing as a roadside attraction.