Don’t tell John Street or any of the other Philadelphia politicians, but one of the city’s landmarks, relatively unknown landmarks, is gun related.
The Sparks Shot Tower.
The first shot tower in the United States.
Circa 1808
Molten lead was poured from the top of the tower through grids or screens of different sizes. The drops that formed became perfectly round as they dropped. There was a vat of water at the bottom of the tower to catch the drops and cool them.
The lead shot was used for small arms, muskets, and shotguns.
I’ll have to pay this site a visit at some point.