Golden Fire Hydrant
The Verdict
"A fire hydrant at 20th and Church painted gold because it kept working during the 1906 fire and helped save the Mission while other mains failed. Neighbors gather every April 18 at 5:12am, the moment the earthquake hit, to repaint it."
What you need to know
What’s There
A fire hydrant painted gold at the corner of 20th and Church Streets, across from the upper corner of 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.
By tradition, the hydrant has been painted gold since the 1960s to mark its role. Neighbors gather here every April 18 at 5:12 AM (the moment the earthquake struck) to repaint it.
Visiting
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 the upper corner of 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: At 20th and Church, across from the upper corner of Dolores Park. Near Mission Dolores and the 18th Street corridor.
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