When you think of history-making objects, toilets probably don’t come to mind. But believe it or not, these humble thrones have played a surprising role in shaping our world. From royal flush inventions to golden art installations, toilets have been at the center of technological breakthroughs, social movements, and even life-saving moments. Prepare to flush away your preconceptions as we dive into the unexpected world of historically significant toilets. These seven examples will prove that sometimes, greatness can emerge from the most unlikely places – even the bathroom.
1. The Royal Flush: Queen Elizabeth I’s Revolutionary Toilet
Long before indoor plumbing became the norm, Queen Elizabeth I was already ahead of the game. In 1596, her godson Sir John Harington invented the first flushing toilet specifically for the Queen. This royal commode was a true game-changer, featuring a cistern that used water to wash away waste. While the common folk were still relegated to chamber pots, Elizabeth could enjoy the luxury of a proper flush.
Harington’s invention, however, was far from perfect. The flush mechanism was noisy and inefficient, often requiring large amounts of water to function properly. It wasn’t until 1775 that Scottish inventor Alexander Cumming improved upon the design by introducing the S-trap, which prevented noxious sewer gases from rising back into the bathroom. This crucial innovation made toilets more tolerable and paved the way for their widespread adoption.
The royal flush toilet marked a significant milestone in sanitation history. It demonstrated that with proper engineering, waste could be efficiently removed from living spaces, improving hygiene and reducing the spread of disease. While it would take centuries for this technology to reach the masses, Elizabeth’s toilet set the stage for a revolution in personal sanitation.
Today, you can find replicas of historical toilets like this in antique-style bathroom fixtures that blend modern functionality with vintage aesthetics. These pieces allow homeowners to add a touch of royal luxury to their own bathrooms, albeit with much-improved flushing capabilities.
2. The Toilet That Saved a Life: A Pilot’s Unlikely Savior
In a bizarre twist of fate, a line of portable toilets became an unexpected hero in 2009. A Cessna 182 pilot found himself in a dire situation when his small plane began to lose altitude over Washington state. As the ground rushed up to meet him, the pilot must have thought his time was up. But in a stroke of incredible luck, his aircraft crashed into a row of portable toilets at a construction site.
These unassuming plastic outhouses turned out to be lifesavers. The impact of the crash was significantly cushioned by the portable toilets, which absorbed much of the force. The soft, plastic structures crumpled under the weight of the plane, creating a makeshift airbag effect that protected the pilot from severe injury or death.
This incident serves as a testament to the unexpected ways in which everyday objects can play crucial roles in emergencies. The portable toilets, designed for a much more mundane purpose, ended up serving as an impromptu safety device. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most ordinary things can become extraordinary in the right circumstances.
While we certainly don’t recommend relying on portable toilets as a safety measure for aviation, this peculiar event has earned these humble facilities a place in the annals of historically significant toilets. It’s a story that highlights the unpredictable nature of life and the potential for the extraordinary to emerge from the ordinary – even in the most unlikely places.
3. The Golden Throne: Maurizio Cattelan’s “America”
In 2016, the art world was flush with excitement over a truly extraordinary toilet. Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan unveiled his provocative masterpiece, “America,” at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. This wasn’t just any toilet – it was a fully functional, solid 18-karat gold commode. Valued at several million dollars, this gleaming throne was as much a work of art as it was a statement on excess and inequality in modern society.
Visitors to the Guggenheim were invited to use the golden toilet, making it one of the most interactive and intimate art experiences ever offered in a major museum. The piece sparked conversations about wealth disparity, the value of art, and the nature of luxury. It was a potent symbol of capitalism and consumerism, inviting users to literally sit on a gold throne while contemplating their place in society.
Cattelan’s “America” became a sensation, drawing curious art lovers and toilet enthusiasts alike. It was more than just a novelty; it was a powerful commentary on American values and the sometimes absurd nature of the art world. The golden toilet challenged viewers to confront their own relationships with wealth, waste, and the things we consider valuable.
In a twist worthy of its provocative nature, “America” was stolen in 2019 from Blenheim Palace in England, where it was on display. The theft of this multimillion-dollar toilet turned it from a symbol of excess into a real-life demonstration of greed and audacity. To this day, the golden throne remains at large, its disappearance adding another layer to its already complex legacy.
4. The Toilet That Broke Barriers: March Fong Eu’s Protest
In 1969, long before she became California’s Secretary of State, March Fong Eu made headlines with a toilet. As a state assemblywoman, Eu took a stand against what she saw as a sexist and unfair practice: pay toilets. These coin-operated restroom stalls were common in public places, but Eu argued they disproportionately affected women, who often had no choice but to pay to use the facilities.
To draw attention to this issue, Eu staged a dramatic protest that would go down in toilet history. On the steps of the California State Capitol, she took a sledgehammer to a porcelain toilet. The image of a politician smashing a toilet was too good for the media to ignore, and Eu’s protest gained widespread attention.
This toilet-smashing stunt wasn’t just about grabbing headlines; it was a powerful statement about equality and access to public facilities. Eu’s actions helped spark a movement against pay toilets, leading to their eventual ban in many parts of the United States. Her crusade highlighted how even something as seemingly mundane as a toilet could be a battleground for civil rights and gender equality.
Eu’s protest toilet became a symbol of her commitment to practical, everyday issues that affected her constituents. It helped launch her into higher office and cemented her reputation as a politician willing to take unconventional actions to fight for what she believed in. Today, the idea of pay toilets in the U.S. seems archaic, thanks in no small part to Eu and her headline-grabbing porcelain prop.
5. The King’s Throne: Henry VIII’s Royal Commode
When it came to royal accommodations, King Henry VIII spared no expense – even in the bathroom. The Tudor monarch’s personal toilet was a far cry from the humble chamber pots used by his subjects. Henry’s royal commode was a luxurious affair, befitting his status as one of England’s most powerful kings.
Henry’s toilet was essentially a padded chair with a hole in the seat, concealing a chamber pot beneath. But what made it truly fit for a king was the presence of the “Groom of the Stool” – a prestigious courtier whose job it was to attend to the king’s most private moments. Far from being a lowly position, the Groom of the Stool was often one of the king’s closest confidants, privy to royal secrets and wielding significant influence at court.
The contrast between the king’s private facilities and those used by the rest of the castle’s inhabitants was stark. While Henry enjoyed his cushioned throne and personal attendant, his servants made do with a communal toilet that could accommodate up to 28 people at once. This massive difference in toilet accommodations perfectly encapsulated the vast gulf between royalty and commoners in Tudor England.
Henry VIII’s royal toilet serves as a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Tudor monarchs and the unexpected ways in which power and privilege manifested themselves. It’s a reminder that throughout history, even the most private of human needs have been subject to the trappings of wealth and status. Today, while we may not have Grooms of the Stool, the legacy of luxurious royal bathrooms lives on in high-end toilet designs that offer modern-day comfort fit for a king.
6. The Space-Age Commode: NASA’s $19 Million Toilet
When it comes to expensive toilets, nothing on Earth can compete with the one floating above it. The International Space Station (ISS) houses what is arguably the most technologically advanced – and costly – toilet ever created. This high-tech commode, designed to function in the challenging environment of zero gravity, comes with a price tag that’s truly out of this world: a whopping $19 million.
Created by the Russian space agency and sold to NASA, this space toilet is a marvel of engineering. It’s designed to overcome the unique challenges of answering nature’s call in a weightless environment. The toilet uses a suction system to ensure that waste is properly contained and doesn’t float away in the cabin. It also features leg restraints and handholds to keep astronauts properly positioned while using the facilities.
One of the most impressive features of this space-age toilet is its urine recycling system. In the resource-constrained environment of space, every drop of water is precious. The toilet is equipped with a sophisticated filtration system that can turn urine into potable water, allowing astronauts to, quite literally, “recycle” their own waste.
The ISS toilet is more than just an expensive novelty; it represents a crucial step in making long-term space habitation possible. As we look towards future missions to Mars and beyond, the ability to manage waste efficiently in space becomes increasingly important. This $19 million toilet may seem extravagant, but it’s paving the way for humanity’s continued exploration of the final frontier.
7. The Ancient Commode: Housesteads Roman Fort Latrines
While we often think of ancient toilets as primitive affairs, the Romans were surprisingly advanced in their sanitation practices. A prime example of this can be found at Housesteads Roman Fort along Hadrian’s Wall in northern England. Here, archaeologists have uncovered one of the best-preserved Roman toilets in Britain, offering a fascinating glimpse into the bathroom habits of Roman soldiers nearly two millennia ago.
The communal latrine at Housesteads was a far cry from the private bathrooms we’re used to today. It featured a long bench with holes cut into it, under which ran a channel of water to carry waste away. The Romans didn’t have toilet paper; instead, they used a sponge on a stick, which was shared by all users of the latrine. While this may seem unhygienic by modern standards, it was a significant improvement over the sanitation practices of many other ancient cultures.
Perhaps most surprising to modern sensibilities is the social nature of these Roman toilets. Far from being private affairs, using the latrine was often a communal activity. Soldiers would sit side by side, chatting and socializing while taking care of business. This openness around bodily functions stands in stark contrast to our modern notions of bathroom privacy.
The latrines at Housesteads are historically significant not just for what they tell us about Roman sanitation, but also for what they reveal about Roman society and military life. They demonstrate the Romans’ advanced understanding of hygiene and public health, as well as their pragmatic approach to the necessities of daily life. Today, these ancient commodes serve as a reminder of how far we’ve come in terms of sanitation – and how some aspects of human nature remain unchanged across the centuries.
From royal flush to space-age technology, toilets have played a surprisingly significant role in human history. These seven examples show that even the most mundane objects can have profound impacts on society, technology, and culture. Whether it’s sparking social change, saving lives, or pushing the boundaries of engineering, toilets have proven to be more than just necessary fixtures – they’re a reflection of human ingenuity and progress. So the next time you visit the bathroom, take a moment to appreciate the rich history behind this humble yet essential invention. You never know – you might be sitting on the next piece of toilet history!
