The Tower of Pisa, a detached bell tower for an adjoining cathedral, was begun in 1171 and completed in 1334. It stands 177 feet high, has a diameter of 56 feet, and leans 15.2 feet. It has 6 bells, the oldest 600 years old, and was built of Cararra marble and Verruca stone on a wood pile foundation by Bonano and Tommaso Pisano, Benanto, and Wm. of Innsbruck. A Chicago replica, built as a utility tower to store water, was begun in 1931 and completed in 1934. It stands 94 feet high, has a diameter of 28 feet, and leans 7.4 feet. It has 5 bells, the oldest 334 years old, and was built of steel, concrete, and pre-cast stone by Albert Farr, N. Silvestri, and August Ferngren. Its design was chosen to honor the outstanding scientist Vincenzo Galileo or Galilei, 1564–1642, an astronomer and developer of practical telescope's who was professor at the University of Pisa in 1589, and it was dedicated to all who contribute and strive to make this earth and its unlimited resources materially and scientifically a better place for mankind.
