Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: America's Oldest Shot Tower
142-foot-high brick tower resembles a smokestack, but it was used to make musket balls from 1808 to 1903. Molten lead was poured from the tower top, and when it hit the water at the bottom it had formed into perfectly round balls.
Shot Tower Recreation Center
- Address:
- 101-31 Carpenter St., Philadelphia, PA
- Directions:
- Shot Tower Recreation Center. Park entrance is on the north side of Carpenter St. just west of its intersection with S. Front St.
- Hours:
- Surrounding park and playground are open daily, but gated after dark. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
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The Shot Tower can be seen from a few blocks away. We didn't go inside the new recreation center, but enjoyed learning about the historical significance while wandering around the playground, baseball field, and small splash pad on the Shot Tower grounds.
[Adventures Of Cluckleberry Hen, 06/02/2018]Nearby Offbeat Places
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