Hitchin' Post

All over neighborhoods in inner-city Portland you find these metal rings installed in curbs. People often wonder what they're for -- well, you can hitch up your horse to one and go into the general store or the saloon and do your business!

The horse rings have been around since the 1800s. For a time, they were removed with sidewalk and street reconstruction until someone realized what a historical treasure they are. Now they are required by ordinance to be preserved.

Of course, residents in Portland have thought of any number of things to do with them. My favorite, though, is this. Just a little plastic horse tied to the horse ring.

You can read more about it here on Wiki.

Look at this one LARGE