Sparks Shot Tower

Sparks Shot Tower
Location of Sparks Shot Tower in Pennsylvania
General information
Type Shot tower
Location Carpenter Street & Front Street
Town or city Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Coordinates 39°56′05″N 75°08′47″W / 39.9348°N 75.1463°W / 39.9348; -75.1463Coordinates: 39°56′05″N 75°08′47″W / 39.9348°N 75.1463°W / 39.9348; -75.1463
Construction started July 4, 1808 (1808-07-04)
Owner City of Philadelphia (Recreation Department)
Height 142 feet (43 m)
Design and construction
Architect
  • Thomas Sparks
  • John Bishop
Designated April 19, 1997

The Sparks Shot Tower is a historic shot tower located at 129-131 Carpenter Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Opened on July 4, 1808, it was one of the first shot towers in the United States, with the Jackson Ferry Shot Tower in Wythe County, Virginia possibly predating it by a year or so. It was built along the Delaware River waterfront at Front and Carpenter Streets by plumber Thomas Sparks, John Bishop, and James Clement.

The 142-foot (43 m) tall brick tower is 30 feet (9 m) in diameter at its base, tapering to 15 feet (5 m) at the top. Originally used to produce shot for hunters, the tower produced ammunition during the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

Four generations of the Sparks family kept the tower in operation until 1903. The City of Philadelphia bought the site in 1913. The tower, which is now managed by the Philadelphia Recreation Department, is now surrounded by a public playground and can be seen from I-95.

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