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!
Spirit of '76: A cheeky fire hydrant painted to look like a
Revolutionary War soldier - Burbank, California
Fun and games: Children play in the water of a hydrant - New York
Across the Pacific: Unique Japanese hydrant - possibly Kyoto ca. 1945
Labor of love: US Patent for fire hydrant design in 1903
The far-flung
Fire hydrants are a global phenomenon -
take a look at some of the exotic hydrants from different corners of the map!
Trinidad, Cuba: Known for its colonial old town and cobblestone streets
Hong Kong: The back alleys of the densely populated Asian city
Los Angeles: On the bustling streets of downtown
Russia: An underground Soviet style hydrant
Bahia, Brazil: One of the countries most populous states
Kaliningrad, Russia: An old German-style hydrant found in the region
The friendly
The necessary element of public infrastructure that smiles back
On guard: In lieu of a scarecrow, this charming fellow watches over the sunflowers
Hundred acre woods: A familiar face in an unexpected place
Holier than thou: Even hydrants have spiritual callings
Woof: Every firehouse needs a dog, but few double as a fire hydrant
Smiley: This guy really loves his job
The colorful
Why limit ourselves to just red and yellow?
Sugar rush: Sadly, this hydrant only dispenses water
Arcade mania: Surrounded by enemies, our brave little hero continues their quest
Far, far away: This plucky droid found his way onto someone's front lawn
Zany: That is one wacky combination of paint!
Red and blue: Swirling patterns make for pleasing street art
The bizarre
A little inspiration for your next piece of yard art
Multi-pronged: This game of jacks would require a pretty big ball - Shelburne, Vermont
Tower: If only Clifford the Big Red Dog could see this - Beaumont, Texas
Capital of the world: So this is where hydrants come from - Albertville, Alabama
Fully functional: Why can't we have more massive yet operational hydrants - Las Vegas, Nevada
Collection: Now that is a lot of fire hydrants - Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Another monolith: This one is for the dogs - Wildwood, New Jersey
Have you encountered some interesting hydrants in your travels? Share you photos with us! Click the link below to get started.