The old shot tower, overlooking the New River, about 3 miles from Austinville, is one of Virginia’s oldest landmarks. Built about 122 years ago by Thomas Jackson for the manufacture of shot, it is 20 ft. squared, 70 feet high with walls 2 1/2 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.