A shining star towering over Altadena continues to shine a light on a community ravaged by the Eaton Fire, as some residents grapple with the loss of their homes.
Serving as a symbol of hope and representing the city’s resilience, the “Star of Palau” shines brightly in the hills behind Loma Alta Drive. Set on a hillside, the building is intended to be visible to as many Altadena residents as possible, symbolizing the community.
This 35-foot-tall star was created in 1928 from wood and 50 light bulbs. After being destroyed in a wildfire in 1935, it was rebuilt with metal. It serves as a guide to the city’s famous Christmas Tree Lane, which is typically lit around Christmas and displays a mile-long cedar tree decorated with festive lights along Santa Rosa Avenue.
During the pandemic, it has come to serve as a symbol of resilience. In the midst of the fire, local residents wanted to turn the lights back on.
The challenge with this goal was that we needed to joke about solar panels and batteries for the stars to glow. That’s exactly what Altadena resident Christopher Jude did.
“I want people to know that this is the North Star and we have to come together and rebuild,” he said. “I hope this piece gives people hope, and I think people in this area will get to know the Star of Palau and know its story. And when they see it lit up, , they’ll be excited. It’ll definitely put a smile on their faces.”
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