The fire hydrant at 20th and Church Streets in San Francisco is painted gold in recognition of its role in providing water to extinguish fires after the 1906 earthquake.
The hydrant, located near the southwest corner of Mission Dolores Park, is said to have continued supplying water after others had run dry, helping to save many local structures from fire damage in the aftermath.
There is a ceremonial repainting annually on the earthquake’s anniversary and a sidewalk plaque begins:
Though the water mains were broken and dry on April 18, 1906 yet from this Greenberg hydrant on the following night there came a stream of water allowing the firemen to save the Mission District.
