Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

What Are Those Towers For?

Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 27, 2017

1. What Are Those Towers For? Marker

Inscription.
Mount Diablo has always been a guide and landmark to people far bellow, and so it became a natural location for many radio and transmission towers as well.

As early as 1928, the Standard Oil Company and U.S. Dept. of Commerce jointly constructed a 75-foot tall aviation beacon for commercial aviation that was visible for 100 miles.

As technologies change and the need for such towers diminishes, it is the long-term goal of Mount Diablo State Park to remove all towers from the summit.

1928 Standard Oil tower
The beacon produced a light equivalent to 10 million candles. It was later transferred to the Summit Building, where it remains to this day.

Special services antennae received and relayed police and fire and other emergency civil defense messages.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Communications • Science & Medicine.

Location. 37° 52.864′ N, 121° 55.108′ W. Marker is in Walnut Creek, California, in Contra Costa County. Marker can be reached from Summit Road, 11 miles north of Blackhawk Road, on the right when traveling north. Located in Mount Diablo State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Walnut Creek CA 94598, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles

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of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mount Diablo State Park (a few steps from this marker); Mt Diablo State Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Mount Diablo Beacon: (approx. ¼ mile away); Mount Diablo (approx. ¼ mile away); Turritella Snail Bed (approx. 2.1 miles away); Sentinel Rock Overlook (approx. 2.2 miles away); Indian Grinding Holes (approx. 2.3 miles away); Blackhawk Ranch Quarry (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Walnut Creek.

Also see . . . Mount Diablo State Park. (Submitted on April 29, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 27, 2017

2. What Are Those Towers For? Marker

Behind the marker is one of the antennae towers

The Mount Diablo Summit Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 27, 2017

3. The Mount Diablo Summit Building

And Another Communication Tower

Another Antenna Tower Near the Summit image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 27, 2017

4. Another Antenna Tower Near the Summit

Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2017. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 826 times since then and 124 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 29, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.