Phoenix Shot Tower, Baltimore

The Phoenix Shot Tower is a remarkable piece of Baltimore's industrial and architectural history. Standing at an impressive height of 234.25 feet, it was once the tallest structure in the United States when it was completed in 1828. It was originally known as the "Phoenix Shot Tower", and later the "Merchants' Shot Tower", and today is often referred to as the "Old Baltimore Shot Tower".

This red brick tower is located in East Baltimore, near the downtown, Jonestown, and Little Italy neighborhoods, and is the only surviving shot tower among four that once existed in the city. The tower was constructed by Jacob Wolfe using bricks made by the Burns and Russell Company of Baltimore. It was built to create lead shot, which was used for hunting and military purposes in the 19th century.

The tower's circular brick structure has walls that are 4.5 feet thick at the bottom and gradually narrow in stages until reaching a thickness of 21 inches at the top. This design allowed the tower to withstand the force of the molten lead being dropped from the top to the water below, where it would cool and form into small, spherical pellets.

The Shot Tower played an important role in the industrial history of Baltimore and has been recognized for its significance by being designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971 and a local Baltimore City Landmark in 1975. The tower's legacy lives on, as it lends its name to the nearby Shot Tower/Market Place station on the Baltimore Metro subway system's northeast line.

In addition, the original Baltimore Bullets basketball team was named in honor of the tower's role in producing shot, as was the team that is now known as the Washington Wizards. The tower has also been featured in various movies and TV shows, including the popular Netflix series, House of Cards.