If I was referring to my camera and me, I would title this post “Canon on the hill.” I know, bad pun. This cannon sits atop a hill outside of Bismarck in a clearing atop a hill. I was out perusing after work a while back and it caught my eye, so I did a little investigating. After looking for the nearest mailbox, looking up the name thereon in my phone book, and placing a friendly call, I was able to head over to this interesting piece and take a few photos.

No, this is not a piece of war history. Yes, it does fire. It’s a homebuilt novelty capable of launching tennis ball sized projectiles for entertainment purposes. It would not be useful in holding back the British; however, it’s a great example of what a guy can do with an idea in his head and a welding stick in his hand.

The owners are two very nice folks who I’m glad I’ve met. The guy who built this device reminds me a lot of my dad and his brothers, who also would simply weld whatever they needed (and overbuild it as well). He graciously allowed me onto the property to look at his masterpiece and gave me a history of how it came to be. I love North Dakota hospitality…thanks for allowing me into your home.

As an aside, I’d like to point something out to my readers. I take a lot of photos from places that a guy wouldn’t normally be, and in doing so I make every effort to have permission first. My Fallen Farm series of photos are either taken from outside the fence lines of these dilapidated farms, or up close after tracking down the owners and receiving permission. I value my privacy and property rights so I must repect that of others.

If you see something really cool on this website and want to go check it out yourself, please contact me by email using the link at the top right of this page. I can let you know how to get permission to visit a particular site or let you know who to contact. It’s a simple matter of respect, something I think our society needs more of these days.