Austinville in Wythe County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Jackson’s Ferry and Shot Tower

Photographed by David Seibert, June 29, 2010

1. Jackson’s Ferry and Shot Tower Marker

Inscription. By 1770 Capt. William Herbert had established a ferry across the nearby New River that became known as Jackson’s Ferry. Thomas Jackson erected the 75-foot shot tower in the early 1800s to manufacture shot for firearms. The Austinville mines supplied lead for this business. Molten lead was dripped through a sieve from the top of the tower, then fell through the structure and an additional 75-foot shaft beneath the building into a kettle of water. While falling, the lead cooled and developed into shot pellets; the water cushioned the fall. The shaft was connected to the riverbank by a tunnel through which the shot was carried and then loaded onto boats.

Erected 2000 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KD-6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1770.

Location. 36° 52.383′ N, 80° 52.217′ W. Marker is in Austinville, Virginia, in Wythe County. It is on Fort Chiswell Road

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(U.S. 52) ¼ mile north of Foster Falls Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Austinville VA 24312, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Shot Tower Historical State Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jackson's Ferry (approx. 0.2 miles away); River Crossing Old & New (approx. 0.2 miles away); Shot Tower at Jackson's Ferry (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of the Shot Tower (approx. 0.2 miles away); The New River (approx. 0.4 miles

Photographed by David Seibert, June 29, 2010

2. Jackson’s Ferry and Shot Tower Marker

The bridge in the right background is over the New River.

away); a different marker also named New River (approx. 0.6 miles away); Railroad Depot (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austinville.

More about this marker. This marker replaces one with the same title and number erected in the early 1930s which read “Here on New River, Captain William Herbert, before the Revolution established a ferry, later called Jackson’s Ferry, that was operational until 1930. The old tower across the river was built about 1820 for the manufacture of shot.”

Also see . . . Jackson Ferry Shot Tower. Excerpt:

The Jackson Ferry Shot Tower is a 75-foot (23 m) tall tower used for manufacturing lead shot located in Wythe County, Virginia and now adjacent to the New River Trail State Park, a lineal rail trail park connecting the historic towns of Pulaski and Galax, Virginia.

As one of the few remaining shot towers in the United States, the Jackson Ferry tower was constructed by Thomas Jackson and is the centerpiece of the Shot Tower Historical State Park. Construction began on the tower shortly after the American Revolutionary War and was completed in
Photographed by David Seibert, June 29, 2010

3. Jackson’s Ferry and Shot Tower Marker
Looking north on US 52 toward Fort Chiswell; the high bridge is northbound Interstate 77.
1807.

(Submitted on June 16, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Additional commentary.
1. National Register of Historic Places
Jackson Ferry Shot Tower was listed on the NRHP October 1, 1969.

— Submitted June 16, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.

Additional keywords. weapons manufacturing

Photographed by David Seibert, June 29, 2010

4. Jackson’s Ferry and Shot Tower Marker

Looking south on US 52 toward the bridge over New River.

The Shot Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed by David Seibert, June 29, 2010

5. The Shot Tower

The shot tower, built around 1807, stands in Shot Tower State Park, on the opposite side of the New River from the marker.

N-353 Old Shot Tower, At Jackson’s Ferry in Southwestern Virginia image. Click for full size.

J.J. Prats Postcard Collection, circa 1930/1945

6. N-353 Old Shot Tower, At Jackson’s Ferry in Southwestern Virginia

Linen postcard mailed in 1956 published by Asheville Post Card Col, Asheville, N.C. and numbered E-4500. The caption reads, “The Old Shot Tower, one of Virginia’s oldest landmarks, was built about 1820 by Thomas Jackson for the manufacture of shot. It is 20 feet square, 75 feet high, with walls 2½ feet thick, and in shape resembles a fortress. It is said that both Daniel Boone and Thomas Jefferson often visited there and that ammunition from the tower was used in the War of 1812. Here on New River, before the Revolution, a ferry was established, later called Jackson’s Ferry, that was in operation until 1930.”

Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 2,701 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 1, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 6. submitted on October 2, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.