City of Light

On Monday 20 Februrary 1962, the people of Perth lit up their city overnight to acknowledge the special mission of American astronaut John Glenn – the first American to orbit the Earth. Glenn, in turn, observed that the city was clearly visible from space, and Perth became known worldwide as ‘The City of Light’.

This true story is a snapshot in time that captures the excitement of human’s first forays into outer space. It is a time of Hills Hoists, friendly neighbours, and small TVs in the family lounge room. It’s a time when we received our news through newspapers, radio and television... or shared it with a neighbour over a cuppa or the back fence.

This is a story of two small children with one big idea: an idea that captured the imagination of a city. It is also a story about connection – the connection of a community that came together to achieve a goal, and their connection with John Glenn who was travelling far from home.