Beacon Lighting
Lighting the Eye of Diablo
December 7th, 3:45 PM

Since 1964, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association has memorialized Pearl Harbor Day by turning on the summit beacon atop Mount Diablo.  The “Eye of Diablo” as it’s known, was extinguished in 1941 just after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  The beacon is lit at sunset and shines all night on this single evening each year.  The event begins at sunset and the public is invited to attend.

The “Eye” crowned Standard Oil’s Standard Diablo (SD) tower, erected in 1928 to aid in the expansion of commercial aviation, and was transferred to Mount Diablo’s Summit Building after it was completed in 1942.  Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces during World War II, relit the beacon in 1964 for the first time and suggested it be lit every December 7th to honor those who served and sacrificed.

Former state park ranger Burt Bogardus, a recipient of Save Mount Diablo’s 2005 Mountain Star award, is one of the few who know how to run the beacon.  After the historic aircraft beacon's aging electronics proved unreliable, Burt designed and built a remote control unit which is used for the annual December 7th event. 

For more information regarding the Eye of Diablo or the annual commemorative beacon lighting contact Save Mount Diablo's office at (925) 947-3535.

Listen to Emily Prusso's perspective and discovery of the Eye of Diablo from KQED Radio's Perspectives.