Fake Firehouse

Phoenix, Arizona

Driving down the street, you see an old-fashion firehouse out of the corner of your eye. But take a closer look. The bricks, the arches, the cornices, the firetruck in the driveway ... all is illusion! The featureless facade was painted in the style known as Trompe L'Oeil (which literally means "trick the eye" in French). The mural, designed by Richard Haas, wraps around two sides of a building and even blends into the landscaping. At the time the mural was painted, the building was occupied by Thunderbird Fire and Safety Equipment; it now houses Clear Connection, LLC. The photo below shows that the illusion vanishes when viewed at an angle. The final photo shows the mural continuing around the side of the building -- where three "painters" on scaffolding are still working on the far corner!

Directions: 3440 E. Roesser Road (1/2 mile south of Broadway, 1/4 mile east of 32nd Street).

Last visited: May 2008.

Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.