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Tower Hill State Park

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Tower Hill State Park is a state park of Wisconsin, United States, which contains the reconstructed Helena Shot Tower. The original shot tower was completed in 1832 and manufactured lead shot until 1860. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The park abuts the Wisconsin River and is bordered by state-owned land comprising the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway.Natural historyThe bluffs along the Wisconsin River are formed of Jordan Sandstone. The park lies within the Driftless Area, a region of the American Midwest that remained ice-free through three successive ice ages. In the 19th century the Wisconsin River flowed directly past the base of the bluffs. The river has since shifted slightly, and a stream known as Mill Creek marks the northern boundary of the park.History of the shot towerShot towers harness the effects of surface tension on liquids in free-fall, a technique developed in 1782. Molten lead can be poured through a strainer at the top of a tower or shaft. The droplets become spherical as they fall and cool in this shape during their descent. The pellets are caught in a water basin to break their fall and finish cooling.In 1830 a businessman from Green Bay, Wisconsin, named Daniel Whitney was traveling along the Wisconsin River and recognized a sharp bluff near the town of Helena as a promising location for a shot tower. Lead deposits had recently been discovered in several locations around Iowa County. From the top of the bluff there was a 60ft sheer drop, below which the sandstone cliff sloped down to the riverbank, 180ft below the clifftop. Whitney formed the Wisconsin Shot Company with some other investors, and set his employee John Metcalf to oversee construction.

Address: 5808 County Rd C, Spring Green, WI 53588, USA
Phone: (608) 588-2116
State: Wisconsin
County: Iowa County
Zip Code: 53588



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Reviews
I love this very little park. An old lead shot tower is accessible at top and bottom. Top is mainly wheel chair accessible but steep. Bottom travels along river and has stairs. This park is also a little run down amenities wise and the woods seem overgrown from lack of funding.
8 years ago (15-10-2017)
Stayed at campsite 3, which is right on the creek discharging into the Wisconsin River. The site was quite secluded, which was nice. Didn't see any hookups, but could easily fit 2 backpacking tents.
8 years ago (26-09-2017)
It seems like an ok place to have picnic or camp, but not that great of a place to hike. I hiked up to the tower and did not find it that interesting. I stopped by here because I was in the area seeing Devil's Lake, but due to the daily parking fee I would not make this place my primary destination especially if I did not have a yearly Wisconsin state parks parking pass.
8 years ago (05-11-2017)
Very cool. I didn't realize that you can see the Baraboo hills from the West tower.
8 years ago (04-09-2017)
A bit rustic but pretty. Small.
8 years ago (27-09-2017)
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