Another Shining Light in the City
jim Winstead
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The last two nights I've noticed the Lindbergh Beacon lit atop City Hall. I don't know if there's some special occasion that makes them slip the switch this time of year, but on this date in 2002 I noticed it lit (after also seeing it two days earlier.
It seems that in the early 1900s Lindbergh Beacons were the thing to have. We commissioned ours in 1928, with the light lit by our country's 30th President, Calvin Coolidge. Not to be outdone, Chicago put their own "Lindbergh Beacon" on the Palmolive Building in 1930. Their beacon was similarly lit via telegraph from the President, but by this time Herbert Hoover was in office.
Update (1pm) Added Jim Winstead's great photo.
GrndPerfrmances
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L. M. on December 15, 2005, at 10:44AM – #1
I believe that beacon is switched on as part of city hall's holiday/Xmas lighting display.
jim on December 15, 2005, at 11:29AM – #2
here's a picture from last night.
jim on December 15, 2005, at 06:25PM – #3
here's three more shots of city hall with the beacon visible. and a bonus picture of traffic on main street.
David Kennedy on December 16, 2005, at 11:50AM – #4
I used to live nearby so I could see it every night from my place. No more. I definitely miss it. It is a nice part of the Christmas season in downtown.
Thanks for entry.
Jeff on December 19, 2005, at 11:19AM – #5
I think the beacon is pretty awesome. In Boston's old John Hancock Tower (which is still there) there's a red and a blue light in the tower. Red representing bad weather on the way and blue the opposite. It would be cool if you could do something like this in the LA City Hall tower. Just a thought.