National Historic Landmark

Shot Tower

Baltimore (Independent City), Baltimore County, Maryland
Listed
September 30, 1969
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
69000373

About this property

The Phoenix Shot Tower, also known as the Old Baltimore Shot Tower, is a red brick shot tower, 234.25 feet (71.40 m) tall, located near the downtown, Jonestown (also known later as Old Town), and Little Italy communities of East Baltimore, in Maryland. The tower was built in less than 6 months. When it was completed in 1828 it was the tallest structure in the United States. The tower was originally the "Phoenix Shot Tower", then the "Merchants' Shot Tower", and is also sometimes called the "Old Baltimore Shot Tower". It is the only surviving shot tower among four that existed in Baltimore. The structure was designated a National Historic Landmark on November 11, 1971, and as a local Baltimore City Landmark on October 14, 1975. The Shot Tower lends its name to the nearby Shot Tower station on the Baltimore Metro subway line. The original basketball team Baltimore Bullets was named in honor of the tower's role in producing shot, as was the team that became the Washington Wizards.

Location

Baltimore (Independent City), Baltimore County, Maryland
39.29074, -76.60548

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

House at 9 North Front Street
Industrial
0 mi
St. Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Carroll Mansion
Industrial
0.2 mi
Hutzler Brothers Palace Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
St. Alphonsus' Church, Rectory, Convent and Halle
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Shot Tower listed on the National Register?

Shot Tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 30, 1969.

What type of historic resource is Shot Tower?

Shot Tower is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Shot Tower a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Shot Tower has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Shot Tower?

The period of significance for Shot Tower is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Shot Tower?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Shot Tower will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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