The New Trend: Designer Sewer Lids

"The era of the designer manhole cover began in the Los Angeles area Monday with a 200-pound clunk as Hermosa Beach utility workers began installing a custom sewer lid that is representative of the place once known as "the aristocrat of the California beaches."

Manholes have been local fixtures since 1873, when construction of Los Angeles' sewer system began. They've existed in cities on the East Coast and in Europe for even longer. Most early covers were forged at local ironworks and boasted ornate, fanciful designs that were often the source of community pride."

Thanks to Laura Kranz