Shot Tower

South Philadelphia's Sparks Shot Tower was built in 1808, first making hunting shot and then ammunition for the War of 1812 and the Civil War Still standing 142 feet tall beside a small playground, molten lead was dropped through the air so that it would be partially cooled when it landed in a pool of water at the bottom. This is one of the oldest shot towers in the United States and provides a special curiosity to the neighborhood. I've seen it from a few blocks' distance a million times over the years, but this was my first visit to its base.