Lindbergh Beacon (Los Angeles) facts for kids
The Lindbergh Beacon is a special light on top of the Los Angeles City Hall. It helped guide airplanes at night a long time ago. This powerful light first shone on April 26, 1928. It worked every night until just after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
In 2001, the beacon was fixed up and brought back to its original look. Los Angeles magazine called it "a tiara of light atop our beautifully restored Los Angeles City Hall." Today, city leaders sometimes turn on the beacon for special times, like holidays.
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Beacon History
The idea for the Lindbergh Beacon started in 1927. This was less than four months after Colonel Charles Lindbergh made his famous solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The Los Angeles Times newspaper wrote about the plan. They said it would be a great way to honor Lindbergh. It would also be a useful guide for airplanes.
The beacon started working on April 26, 1928. This was the first night of a three-day party to celebrate the new City Hall. The Los Angeles Times reported that people could see a very bright light. This light had 8,000,000 candlepower.
How the Beacon Was Turned On
President Coolidge turned on the Lindbergh Beacon from far away. He was in the White House in Washington D.C. He pressed a telegraph key, and the light came on in Los Angeles.
The Times newspaper said that the building was dark for 30 minutes. Then, the bright beacon turned slowly. It sent a message about Los Angeles's growth as a flying center. The light could be seen in a circle about 120 miles [190 km] wide.
Changes to the Beacon
Only six months after it started, someone close to Lindbergh said the beacon was a "great mistake." They thought rotating beacons should only be near airports.
In May 1931, the government ordered a change. The white rotating beacon was replaced with a red one. This red light pointed to the nearest airport. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the beacon was turned off. It stayed off until after World War II. It was briefly turned on again in 1947. Then, it was taken down and put away.
Beacon's Return
In 1992, the red Lindbergh Beacon was put on display. You could see it at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, also known as LAX.
In the late 1990s, the beacon was fixed up again. It was put back on top of the City Hall as part of a big renovation project. In September 2001, the plan was to turn it on again. But the September 11 attacks delayed this. Finally, in December 2001, the Lindbergh Beacon's white light shone across the city once more.
Today, the Lindbergh Beacon can be turned on for special events. City officials just need to let air traffic authorities know first.
Between 1923 and 1933, the US Post Office and the Department of Commerce built a network of airway beacons. These beacons helped pilots find their way at night. They had a white light that spun around. It looked like it flashed for a tenth of a second every ten seconds. Below the white light, there were red or green lights. These "course lights" pointed along the air routes.
The first white Lindbergh Beacon spun six times every minute. This was like the white beacons in the national network. The restored white Lindbergh Beacon now spins ten times per minute.
Commemorative Plaque
On the 27th floor of the Los Angeles City Hall, there is an observation deck. Here, you can find a bronze plaque. It is titled "The Lindbergh Beacon."
The plaque says: "The beacon on top of the Los Angeles City Hall was turned on by President Calvin Coolidge from the White House during the City Hall dedication ceremonies April 26, 1928. The light was gratefully dedicated to Charles A. Lindbergh for his contribution to the advancement of aviation and in commemoration of man's first transatlantic solo flight from New York to Paris on May 20, 1927. Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles."
This plaque was likely put there after the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles was started in 1936.
Huell Howser's Programs
From 1992 to 2001, TV personality Huell Howser made three shows about the Lindbergh Beacon. These shows were on PBS. Each show added more to the story. His first show in 1991 made people interested in the beacon again. Even the city's mayor, Tom Bradley, became interested.
The second show in 1992 showed the "rediscovered" beacon. It was on display at LAX as a red, spinning light. The third show in 2001 showed the beacon being put back on top of the City Hall. It was lifted by a helicopter and then bolted into place.
The Howser videos give many details about the beacon. They show it is like a searchlight. It is about three feet wide and has one light bulb. Behind the bulb is a curved mirror.
Important Dates
- March 1926: Work begins on the Los Angeles City Hall.
- May 1927: Charles Lindbergh makes his famous solo flight across the Atlantic.
- August–September 1927: The LA Times mentions city leaders want a beacon on City Hall. It would honor Lindbergh and help planes.
- September 1927: Lindbergh visits Los Angeles during his tour.
- Early April 1928: Mayor Cryer says the beacon will tell pilots they have arrived in Los Angeles.
- April 26–28, 1928: The City Hall is dedicated. President Coolidge turns on the Lindbergh Beacon from far away.
- October 1928: Some people say the City Hall's beacon is a "great mistake." They think spinning beacons should only be near airports.
- April 1931: The white Lindbergh Beacon is replaced with a red one. This red light points to the nearest airport. The US Department of Commerce ordered this change.
- December 9, 1941: The LA Times reports the Lindbergh Beacon has been turned off.
- 1947: The beacon is turned on for a short time. Then, it is stored in the City Hall basement.
- 1991: Huell Howser's TV show makes people interested in fixing the beacon.
- 1992–2001: The beacon, with a red filter, is shown at the Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX.
- 2001: The "white" beacon is put back on top of the LA City Hall. Later that year, it is turned on again for several weeks.
Images for kids
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Los Angeles City Hall and active Lindbergh Beacon in 2005
