Another Shining Light in the City

By Eric Richardson
Published: Thursday, December 15, 2005, at 09:45AM

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.

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Comments

L. M. writes:

I believe that beacon is switched on as part of city hall's holiday/Xmas lighting display.

# on Dec.15.2005 AT 10:44 AM

jim writes:

here's a picture from last night.

# on Dec.15.2005 AT 11:29 AM

jim writes:

here's three more shots of city hall with the beacon visible. and a bonus picture of traffic on main street.

# on Dec.15.2005 AT 06:25 PM

David Kennedy writes:

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.

# on Dec.16.2005 AT 11:50 AM

Jeff writes:

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.

# on Dec.19.2005 AT 11:19 AM