I grew up in Niles. In the 70's my dad took us up to the top. There used to be a gift shop in the base. The YMCA charged a fee to go up. Btw, niles started as an overnight destination for funerals. Folks would travel "out" to Saint Alberts cemetery, and stay overnight in the local inn. Before going back to Chicago.
I remember visiting the Leaning Tower of Niles for fun before visiting the real thing in Pisa. Those were good times, especially since it was my birthday when I went to Pisa!
I stayed not far from the Leaning Tower the first time I was ever in Chicagoland back when you used a 1-800 number to book a room. While my friends and I knew we were going to see major landmarks in Chicago like the Sears Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and Navy Pier, the Leaning Tower of Niles was a quirky surprise (one of the best things about traveling). Thinking of that trip (which was only two nights) brings back good memories, and the Leaning Tower is part of those memories.
Um, 1:20. I live in the far northwest of Chicago less than a half mile from the Leaning Tower. I have never heard anyone say we had to "go down to Niles" unless they were up north...beyond Niles.🤔
The Chicago surface-line railway was not extended DOWN to Niles. Niles is NORTH of the city. Which is UP. Your "Points of Interest" map insert STARTS with the current location of Niles at the far NORTH/top of the map to the upper left - and then pans further south as you say the surface-line was extended down. Just pointing that out.
I've driven past this many times and always wondered what in the world it was all about. I had no idea it was as old - or notable - as it is. What a weird, fascinating thing!
@@Will-me8zw Cool! I looked it up after I was done watching the video and how cool! I’m planning a trip there now! Gurnee Mills, the amusement park, and now the pyramid!!! Thank you
I also grew up in Niles, now in NJ. My late wife and I went back with the intent of moving back home. I did get many good photos of the tower, MTHS (My high school), and many other personal landmarks. I was told by local friends the tower would be rededicated and open but, apparently that did not happen. My wife passed away so I never got back as planned sadly.
I grew up in the area and now live in Niles. I worked at the leaning tower YMCA as the building engineer. By the time I got there the village owned it, could not get in. I was able to see some old pictures and plaque that the YMCA had up on but took it down after the ownership switched to the village. From my understanding the tower was to cover the stand pipe. The stand pipe helps create pressure for the jets, like a water tower. I do have a picture of what it looked like before it was the YMCA. It has all the old pools.
Your video on Lake Shore Drive (LSD) was very good except for one mistake and one omission. The mistake is that toward the end of your video, you show the University of Illinois at Chicago but called it the University of Chicago. Hugh mistake. Please correct this. The omission is that you do not mention the notorious "S" curve near the Chicago River being re-constructed to a gentler curve between 1982 and 1987. This was a huge change for the people of Chicago.
54 yo Navy Corpsman living in MO. Is it worth a 2hr Drive? I mean, is there anything else to Do There? The Superman Courthouse in Metropolis, IL (and the local shops) are Worth the Drive... :-) Please Google it...
I was the first civilian to try the looping water slide at action park. It was maybe 1985? I could see it moved to the left so i pointed my feet that way and could tell from my one run if you didn't it meant you would not make it through the loop as it was not a fast loop despite the small circumference. My bro and i did every ride there several times with our 3 or 4 visits to the park. We were very capable and never really got hurt but did get kicked off a few rides for being too rad which was freakin awesome! And Yes ... flipping guy was my brother on the rope swing and i went next and went way too high and nearly killed myself on the "pier"
I lived in the area and went to the YMCA there. It's probably best to keep it shut to the public. I was also at the Leaning Tower in Pisa in 1980, and there were no fences on the levels open to the public. I believe they now have fences do to some tourists who were not sure-footed.
Lol. I just went by there the other day. My dad was going to Costco there and went a bit far so he cut through the leaning tower YMCA parking lot. I think that that Y isn’t in use anymore.
I got this from the official website for the tower Hear the Restored Bells Ring Each day the historic restored bells ring for several minutes on the hour at at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM with familiar tunes and old favorites like Red River Valley, On Top of Old Smokey, My Favorite Things and a custom melodie just for Niles! A "clock chime" will ding every 15 minutes.
Being on the national register of historic places does not make this a national landmark. Its an honorary designation that does not protect it from anything. Landmark is something totally different. I was part of the team that got the ss United States on the national register so trust me on this.
I never knew about this til i had a job call in niles with a buddy a couple years ago. We thought maybe we got too baked and ended up in italy somehow 😂. Noone believed us that we saw a leaning tower when we mentioned it lol
I remember seeing this in 1977 or so. It was near a baseball camp for MLB prospects. Fast Forward 22 years I would be working in Niles IL at Sears. I never knew that was in Niles. I know the real one is in Italy
The Liberty Bell? A famous bell that could be damaged by using it. A crack, a swing at it could damage it? Hell yeah, we should ring that sucker every day. If it breaks, we'll fix it. That's what we do!!
since 1966 the meteor shower numeric was indicated from non numeric evolution of instruction to gravitational leveling that was once projected by polar vortex draft and vertices timing that would be perfectly vertical
WOW, how cool it's been saved. I was there around 1965ish (at 10) with the dad of some friends, who was familiar with it, closed, a little down run, but accessible. (Thanks, another fun forgotten memory comes back to life)
Thank you for sharing! Having grown up in the area, I remember when it was in great disrepair? Glad to say that I think we will see tours again one day soon.
@@MustacheDLuffy I only remember it being “The All America City.” I even have a charm for my charm bracelet commemorating Niles winning the All America City award in 1963.
Frank: You are stunningly illiterate. It was built with private funds by a businessman who most obviously cared deeply about his community and about beauty.
