PZ has discovered that the Skinner’s Butte cross has been off the Eugene, OR butte since 1997:

I learn that another Eugene landmark, the Skinner’s Butte cross, has been gone since 1997. I remember that obnoxious thing glowing up at the top of the butte during my entire stay there (we lived just west of the butte, and could look down the street to watch rock-climbers scale it), and I’m glad to hear it’s gone.

Neither PZ or his commenters note the time honored tradition of visiting high schoolers turning off the cross – reportedly a common occurrence when state basketball championships were held in Eugene.

Gosh, I’m surprised that PZ did not turn it off once or twice when he lived there.