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

Mount Diablo Beacon:

Left Dark by War, Lighted in Remembrance

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 1, 2016

1. Mount Diablo Beacon Marker

Inscription. A large flashing light atop this rotunda once guided airplanes flying through the night skies of the Bay Area. Originally held aloft on a 75-foot tower erected by Standard Oil in 1928, it served as a crucial route-finding aid in the days before electronic navigation. Civilian Conservation Corps workers crowned this building with a 10-million candlepower light before the outbreak of World War II. After the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor it was turned off amid fears it could guide the enemy in attacking the mainland.
Obsolete after the war, the beacon remained dark except for an annual December 7th lighting in memorial to those who died at Pearl Harbor.

Erected by California State Department of Parks and Recreation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) series list.

Location. 37° 52.909′ N, 121° 54.858′ W. Marker is in Walnut Creek, California, in Contra Costa County. It can be reached from Summit Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Walnut Creek CA 94598, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mount Diablo (a few steps from this marker); Mt Diablo State Park

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(within shouting distance of this marker); What Are Those Towers For? (approx. ¼ mile away); Mount Diablo State Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Turritella Snail Bed (approx. 2.3 miles away); Sentinel Rock Overlook (approx. 2.4 miles away); Indian Grinding Holes (approx. 2.4 miles away); Blackhawk Ranch Quarry (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Walnut Creek.

More about this marker. This marker is located on the roof of the Mt. Diablo Summit Museum roof in Mt. Diablo State Park.

Mount Diablo Beacon and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 1, 2016

2. Mount Diablo Beacon and Marker

Mount Diablo Tower and Beacon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 1, 2016

3. Mount Diablo Tower and Beacon

Compass Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, February 29, 2020

4. Compass Marker

Located below the beacon, inside the tower.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,085 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 5, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on April 6, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.