Pier Decked Out in Patriotic Lighting

In a show of patriotism, operators of the Santa Monica Pier plugged in red, white and blue lightbulbs on their nine-story Ferris wheel Thursday night.

The 5,392 lamps replace green and purple colors on the landmark amusement ride, which towers 130 feet over the ocean and is regularly used as a backdrop for local television stations’ weather forecasts.

The lighting change was suggested by pier employees moved by scenes of red, white and blue lights on buildings elsewhere in the U.S. after last week’s terrorist attacks, a pier spokesman said.

Installed in 1996, the Ferris wheel is partly run on solar power. The bulbs are controlled by a computer that generates various light patterns during evening hours.