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Manhole Covers: Decorative Doorways to The Underground
Published by thestickman in Offbeat
November 22, 2009
Weighing in at over 100lbs. each on average, cast-iron manhole covers come in many assorted designs and patterns meant solely to decorate the street above. While collecting manhole covers as a hobby is impractical due to their weight and size, people can and do as a hobby collect images of them from around the world.
Here are just a very small sampling of some interesting manhole covers that I found.
Online I happened upon an image of a plain and relatively featureless manhole cover that reminded me of some of the scuff-worn manhole covers here in the city of Toronto. That lead to a quick search of manhole cover images and I was rewarded with a myriad of examples to feast my eyes upon. I can only say that I had no idea!
Simple, Utilitarian Manhole Cover in NOLA
In a city where everything is extraordinary, this seemingly plain manhole cover located in New Orleans, Louisiana almost seems boring. It serves its purpose of course. Manhole covers might even be used for purposes not envisioned by their manufacturer. I have in~situ used manhole covers very similar to this in my costuming work that used pop rivets. I would use the flat-surfaced iron surface and a hammer to pound flat the rivet tails after joining together larger plastic carapaces. The surface of the manhole cover served as sort of an anvil. It was seeing this image that got me wondering what other types and designs of manhole covers might exist.
A Map of London Sewers, In Case You Get Lost
Telephone Access Manhole Covers
Not just for access to municipal sewer systems, manhole covers provide access to buried phone & communications lines, gas or steam lines, potable water supply, and other needs for urban life as we know it.
and 
(image source) and (image source)
A Warlord’s Shield?
The author of this image cites that this particular manhole cover is of an older type belonging to the Tokyo Electric Power, Japan, dating to circa 1960’s. When I saw this one I could not help but see a warrior’s shield.
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21 Comments
Very interesting.
I would have never given much thought to a manhole cover, but you presented a very interesting article which I’m sure will make me a little more curious to check out the designs when I see another manhole cover. Thanks
now they just need to do something really eyecatching.
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Incredibly fun article–some great artwork and urban mythos there.
very nice and amusing write up
Love the pictures – art is all around! Thanks. Great seeing you back with a vengence . j
very good stickman.
whoah! these are great, thestickman…
it was fun reading them. they really did put some creativity and art on a simple object such as a manhole cover. nice!
Interesting article, enjoyed it very much.
Some of them are quite decorative.
That was fun!
Interesting article!
This is fun interesting and creative. thanks for sharing.
wonderful….
Wow, I have found a new respect for manhole covers. They are truly beautiful. Thanks for writing this.
The heavy round manholes can also be rolled on their edge to and from the hole – not a great attribute of square manholes (square ones obviously designed by those that don’t have to lift them very often!)
You have the knack of making everyday things interesting, and bizarre things normal. Good on you!
Loved this article..well presented..very creative indeed..well done bro! cheers
Stumbled, how fun!
How fascinating Stick .. although I’ve never actually taken an interest in manhole covers [they're nothing like the ones in your pics!] .. but I’ve always wanted to open one up and see what’s hiding underneath hehehe ~ stumbled