...Your feet ache, and you are exhausted from walking as the tsar takes you on a tour of his beautiful garden. Suddenly you see a beautiful tree in the distance. Its solid gold petals shine in the sunlight. You begin to walk over to examine the tree more closely, but as you approach, you stop in sudden shock. You are being pelted by water as it sprays in all directions. All the while, you hear the booming rumble of the tsar’s laughter. You have just become the latest victim of the Master Trickster.

Making Russia a powerful nation was no easy feat, so it makes sense that Peter the Great found clever ways to entertain himself. Located in Saint Petersburg, Peterhof Palace featured intricate fountains at its entrance known as the “Peterhof trick fountains.”

As people walked through the different sections of the gardens, these fountains—often made of gold and shaped like umbrellas, tulips, and other playful designs—would splash passersby with water.

In 1735, a gold-plated trick fountain named “the Oak” was created. Over time, many architectural changes were brought to the fountain, including jetting “tulips” made up of 41 hidden water nozzles. Another popular trick fountain known as “the Umbrella” appeared in 1796. In a small clearing with a large umbrella for shade were benches for guests to sit on. Lured in by the prospect of relief from the heat and the chance to rest, guests would be soaked by a water curtain coming from the end of the umbrella.

“The Mushroom” and “Water Road” were two other fountains featured in the palace, among many others. The fountains were on a timer of sorts, and provided “squirting amusements,'' spraying water at different times throughout the day. Over the years, some of the fountains were redesigned, renamed, or removed completely. Peter the Great’s trick fountains were a fun addition to the royal palaces of Peterhof and are still a favorite attraction to this day.