As is so often the case with normal aspects of everyday life, things can fade into the background and become unappreciated in their beauty. Sometimes it's important to take a second, be mindful of our surroundings, and smell the flowers.
I draw your attention to the humble fire hydrant, fixture of sidewalk and roadside in cities and towns across the United States and around the world. It's the type of thing we've all seen thousands and thousands of times. But have you ever taken the time to admire just how cool they can be?
Without further ado, let's dive in to look at a bunch of wacky fire hydrants from throughout time and space, dotting the globe and adding a little color to the backdrop of our day-to-day existence.
Click the left and right arrows on the included slide shows to view pictures.
The historic
Though it may seem like a fully modern convenience, the first fire hydrant was patented in 1801!
The far-flung
Fire hydrants are a global phenomenon -
take a look at some of the exotic hydrants from different corners of the map!
The friendly
The necessary element of public infrastructure that smiles back
The colorful
Why limit ourselves to just red and yellow?
The bizarre
A little inspiration for your next piece of yard art
Have you encountered some interesting hydrants in your travels? Share you photos with us! Click the link below to get started.