Powder tower

A powder tower (German: Pulverturm), occasionally also powder house (Pulverhaus), was a building used by the military or by mining companies, frequently a tower, to store gunpowder or, later, explosives.

They were common until the 20th century, but were increasingly succeeded by gunpowder magazines and ammunition depots.

The explosion of a powder tower could be catastrophic as, for example, in the Delft Explosion of 1654.

Buildings formerly used as powder towers include the following: These are sorted by states of Germany, since there are so many.

The Pulverturm, Demmin, bears the name, but was probably not used for this purpose.