Shot Tower Historical State Park

The 75-foot stone tower rises above the New River Valley, featuring a distinctive conical shape used for manufacturing lead ammunition in the 1800s.

Constructed in 1851, the tower produced ammunition by dropping molten lead from its summit through copper sieves, creating perfectly round shot for firearms.

The tower represents early American industrial innovation, standing as one of the few remaining shot production facilities from the nineteenth century.

Visitors can explore the grounds daily from dawn to dusk, with guided tower tours available during summer weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The manufacturing process utilized gravity and physics, as molten lead drops fell 150 feet through the tower and underground shaft into a water basin.

Location: Virginia

Website: https://dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/shot-tower

GPS coordinates: 36.88440,-80.85310

Latest update: March 4, 2025 10:51