The Lost Art Of Leaning

Little-known history.

All photos via Simpleinsomnia • Creative Commons

It’s rarely given a second thought nowadays, but there was a time when leaning was highly valued. Standing up straight was considered lazy and lacking style. A good lean was something to be seen.

People built their houses to lean. Fences leaned. Flagpoles leaned. Entire towns were constructed to lean. Leansville, Montana had a considerable lean that made dogsled racing an uphill challenge.

Ships leaned into leaning ports. Wives leaned while waiting for their leaning sailor husbands to return from sea.

Colossal metal structures were built simply to lean and be leaned on.

People leaned canoes as far as possible when rowing. People took pride in their leaning.