A 12-point circular magnetic compass painted on Santa Monica Airport’s tarmac has been officially designated as a historic landmark after a unanimous vote by the city council. The compass, first painted in 1929, was used as an early aviation navigational aid and has undergone several modifications over the years.
The Los Angeles chapter of the Ninety-Nines, an international non-profit organization of women pilots, painstakingly repainted the compass in 2010 to ensure its accuracy. According to Chairman Eve Lopez, a surveyor marks the cardinal points before painting, as the earth’s magnetic direction shifts annually, requiring maintenance.
The Compass Rose is an enduring symbol of women pilots who have flown out of Santa Monica since the early 20th century, inspired by Amelia Earhart’s historic flight in 1929. The city council unanimously approved the landmark designation, rejecting an appeal from Ben Wang that claimed the compass did not meet the criteria for a historic landmark.
Wang filed the appeal independently, but Lopez believes he may have received legal guidance behind the scenes. The five-year-long appeal has depleted over $5,000 in funds for the Ninety-Nines, a small chapter with limited resources. Despite this, the organization remains dedicated to preserving the compass and its significance as a symbol of women’s aviation heritage.
The city council members praised the emotional accounts from the public and the Ninety-Nines, and unanimously approved the motion to designate the Compass Rose as a historic landmark. The designation recognizes the importance of the compass in aviation history and ensures its preservation for future generations.
Source: https://smdp.com/2024/11/19/compass-rose-at-smo-designated-as-a-historical-landmark-in-unanimous-vote