Golden Fire Hydrant
The Verdict
"A gold-painted hydrant at 20th and Church credited with saving the Mission from the 1906 fires when other mains broke. Neighbors regather every April 18 at 5:12 AM (the moment the quake struck) to repaint it. Across from Dolores Park, J-Church stops at 20th."
What you need to know
What’s There
A fire hydrant painted gold at the corner of 20th and Church Streets, across from Dolores Park. It’s the only thing to see, and it takes about 15 seconds.
The story: the April 18, 1906 earthquake broke most of San Francisco’s water mains, leaving firefighters without water as fires spread through the city. This hydrant on 20th and Church kept flowing the night after the quake, and firefighters credit it with saving the Mission District from the fires that destroyed about 80% of the city.
A local dentist and historian named Doc Bullock began painting the hydrant gold in the late 1960s to mark its role. Neighbors gather here every April 18 at 5:12 AM (the moment the earthquake struck) to repaint it.
Visiting
Address: Corner of 20th Street and Church Street, Mission District
Hours: Always visible
Cost: Free
Best time to go: April 18 at 5:12 AM for the annual painting ceremony. Otherwise, anytime.
What to know: The hydrant is small. Look at the corner of 20th and Church, across from Dolores Park.
Getting There
Transit: Muni J-Church to 20th Street stop. The hydrant is right there. BART to 16th Street Mission, then a 10-minute walk.
Parking: Street parking on Church and 20th. Metered.
Walking: Two blocks uphill from Dolores Park. Near Mission Dolores and the 18th Street corridor.
Explore Nearby
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Foreign Cinema
Films from the 1960s and 1970s projected on the courtyard wall.
True Laurel
A James Beard-recognized Mission cocktail bar from the Lazy Bear team.
Flour + Water
Seven-course pasta tasting menu around $90.