Camp San Luis Obispo Eagle - San Luis Obispo California
Posted by: 
teeoff2
N 35° 19.692 W 120° 43.753
10S E 706399 N 3911806
This eagle was created by Officers of the California Military Academy in the 1960's. It has been maintained by each class since.
Waymark Code: WM2Q0Y
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 12/04/2007
Views: 52
The eagle at Camp San Luis can be seen from US Highway 1 between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo Ca. The following is taken from this web site. (
visit link)
One of the more recognizable signs of the program is the famous Eagle, found on the side of Guard Mountain. The Eagle was the creation of an enterprising young civil engineering Cadet in the mid 1960’s. Using a telescope mounted on top of a hutment, this Cadet guided his team via radios in positioning each rock into its place, forming the shape you see today. Each year, the class that is scheduled to graduate takes time off to paint the rocks and perform basic maintenance, changing the year’s designation in the process. Many a time, junior’s will sneak up at night and change the senior class designation to that of their own; no small feat considering the Eagle is nearly ½ an acre in size.
The Eagle itself severed as a magnet of controversy in the early 70’s as the anti-war movement made military involvement a highly unpopular act. The Eagle became a cause celebre with the anti-war faction at Caliifornia State Polytechic College (Cal Poly), necessitating the Camp San Luis Obispo Post Commander to order it dismantled. As the Eagle was taken apart during the day, each night the Senior Cadet Company snuck up and had it reassembled to the early morning leading to frustration of the Post Commander. Realizing he was whipped after several go a rounds, no further orders were given for its dismantlement. The Eagle has remained in its "perch" ever since.
It can be viewed all along the highway, and the coordinates are from the location I took the picture. Access to the eagle is restricted as it remains on military property.