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Shot Tower (Dubuque)The Shot Tower located in Dubuque, Iowa is one of the United States' last standing shot towers. A National Historic Landmark and one of the recognized symbols of the city, it is located near East 4th and East 6th streets near the Mississippi River. The Tower can be seen from the riverwalk but is not accessible as of May 2004 because of construction. History The tower was built in 1856 to provide lead shot for the military. When molten lead was poured into the tower from the top, it passed through structures that produced shot. When superior ammunition manufacturing processes were developed, the tower lost its original purpose. It found a new one as the Dubuque lumber industry gained importance: a fire lookout post near the lumberyard. Fires had severely damaged the city's lumber industry. The Shot Tower was abandoned as the lumber industry declined, but in 1976 was designated a historic landmark. Tuckpointing and repairs followed, and in 2004, the Shot Tower is part of the ongoing renovations to the riverfront.
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