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A Gigantic Fire Hydrant in Beaumont Marks C.A. ‘Pete’ Shelton Plaza & Fire Museum of Texas

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Coming in at an enormous (by hydrant standards) 24 feet tall, a Dalmatian-spotted fire hydrant stands in Beaumont, Texas, in front of a 1920s-era fire station which presently houses the Fire Museum of Texas. The backstory on this beautifully bold and gigantic piece of Texas scenery is that in 1999, to endorse its re-release of the cartoon classic 101 Dalmatians, the powers that be at the Walt Disney’s Home Video division chose to build the World’s Largest Fire Hydrant at Disney Land (California). In a competition of 300 U.S. museums for the movie promotion site, the City of Beaumont was selected as the winner, and subsequently, the permanent home for this prop which was dedicated in a ceremony on March 9, 1999.

World’s Largest Working Fire Hydrant

A Gigantic Fire Hydrant in Beaumont Marks C.A. ‘Pete’ Shelton Plaza & Fire Museum of Texas

Photo: Jerry Minyard

Weighing in at 4,500 pounds, this monolith is considered to be the World’s Largest Working Fire Hydrant, capable of blasting 1,500 gallons of water per minute. Constructed using fiberglass and re-enforced with 1,000 feet of steel, the Dalmatian spots are actually copyrighted by Walt Disney. Recognized by the Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas as “The Official Fire Museum of Texas,” the Beaumont museum takes its visitors on the journey through the evolution of firefighting and the heroes it has produced in Texas.

C.A. “Pete” Shelton Plaza

A Gigantic Fire Hydrant in Beaumont Marks C.A. ‘Pete’ Shelton Plaza & Fire Museum of Texas

Photo: Facebook/Bruce Robie

The plaza on which this colossal tribute now sits has since been named the C.A. “Pete” Shelton Plaza, in honor of retired, deceased, and fallen firefighters. It’s a fitting tribute as Chester Shelton was the Beaumont Fire Chief for 20 years as well as an extremely active community member. The museum building itself is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, and in addition to the gigantic fire hydrant, features a 9-11 Memorial, the State of Texas Firefighter Memorial, and a Firefighter Commemorative Walkway.

Sources:

Wikipedia

Roadside America