A fixture of the Dubuque skyline since 1856, the George W. Rogers shot tower once lived up to its namesake.

"It was constructed to make shot for bird hunting, squirrel hunting, things of that nature," explained David Johnson, assistant city planner. "George W. Rogers was in the firearms and ammunition business at that time."

Johnson gave us a peek inside, bringing us to the ground floor of this 120-foot tall marvel.

"This building is of national significance," Johnson said. "That's how important it is. It is the only shot tower west of the Mississippi River, but it's the only shot tower of Egyptian design...in the nation."

Johnson said part of the tower's visibility has to do with its coloration. "The bottom two-thirds is Galena dolemite limestone, the top one-third is historic red brick."

Back when it was still operational, lead was hoisted to the top of the tower.

"At the top of the shot tower were workers and a furnace, and they would melt the lead and add arsenic to it," Johnson explained. The molten lead would then be poured through a sieve. "Through that sieve, drops would fall through the air, and the physics of that would...form a sphere."

The balls of lead would drop into the well at the bottom of the tower filled with water to cool off. The round ones went to market, and the irregulars were put through the process again. Some of the tower's history - like being re-purposed as a fire watchtower by Standard Lumber - is well-documented. Other pieces of its past remain a mystery.

"There's a number of people who wonder whether or not the shot tower ever made shot for the Civil War," Johnson told TV9. "We can't find any records that indicate that it did. We do find records that an order was placed by the Union Army."

The city of Dubuque started restoring the tower about eight years ago, stabilizing its limestone base. Now, it's an attraction for visiting students and history buffs to enjoy.