El Paso Star

The El Paso Star is a man-made landmark in the shape of a five-pointed star that sits atop the Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Texas. First lit in 1940 as a Christmas decoration, the star served at the time as a peaceful symbol for people on both sides of the border with Mexico. Today's structure measures about 460 feet (140 meters) tall and 280 feet (85 meters) wide and consists of 459 lights arranged at a 30-degree angle. This particular design keeps the star from looking distorted when viewed from the ground. From the air, the light display is visible from up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) away, while from the ground it can be seen from a distance of 25 to 35 miles (40 to 56 kilometers).

The monument has gone through several phases over the years. After it was first lit at just 165 feet (50 meters) wide, it was quickly enlarged, and after a storm in 1946 it was rebuilt at its current size. For almost fifty years the star was lit only during the Christmas season, with a few special exceptions, such as during the Iran hostage crisis and after the Gulf War, when it shone continuously to honor soldiers. Since November 1993, the star has been lit every day, a change initiated by the local chamber of commerce and the electric utility. More recently, the infrastructure has been modernized, including the installation of new energy-efficient, shatterproof lights that can be controlled by computer.

For visitors, the star makes an impressive sight, best enjoyed from Scenic Drive, a popular photo spot for the city skyline. The light display isn't always white, though: on special occasions it is lit in different colors, such as red for awareness campaigns or rainbow colors for Pride Month. Despite its importance as a symbol of the city, the star is regularly targeted by vandals who trespass to damage or steal the lights. The city administration and the chamber of commerce therefore monitor the area with cameras and ask residents to respect the site in order to protect this iconic feature of El Paso.