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.