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Dark and motionless for almost 60 years, the so-called Lindbergh beacon that once projected a revolving light for miles from atop Los Angeles City Hall was restored Saturday to its historic perch.
In a victory for style and nostalgia over hard-nosed utility, the powerful light was lowered by helicopter and secured once again as the luminous jewel in City Hall's architectural crown.
Installation of the beacon caps a three-year, $299-million face lift and earthquake-safety retrofit for City Hall, one of the city's most recognizable and most photographed buildings. The beacon will be formally relighted for the first time on Sept. 22 as part of the celebration of the reopening of the 73-year-old civic landmark.
The beacon, once visible from as far away as Pomona and Santa Monica, not only will relight the night sky on special civic occasions but also metaphorically illuminate the architectural and cultural history of Los Angeles and its fourth modern City Hall.
Like the Hollywood sign several miles to the west, City Hall has played roles in the real and fictional life of Los Angeles. Historians and preservationists view the restoration of the Lindbergh beacon as the latest effort to celebrate the history of a city that has been accused of forgetting its past.
As the blossoming city of Los Angeles sought a way to cap its new City Hall in 1928, it turned to Charles Lindbergh, the celebrated aviator who a year earlier had crossed the Atlantic Ocean.
Lindbergh had been showered with gifts, from a pony to a motorcycle, and he requested that Los Angeles leaders, in lieu of a gift, make a donation toward the advancement of aviation.
Pioneer photographer George Watson suggested the 1,000-watt light to help pilots identify the city as a destination and also mark the 27-story building as a potential flying hazard. The beam swept in a full circle six times every minute.
When City Hall opened in spring 1928, it was to a three-day fete produced by movie theater tycoon Sid Grauman....