H75.236.29

Two blackout buttons. Description: Luminous treated cardboard circles, could be worn in the lapel. Condition: very good. Description: 2-1/2" diameter. From the History Information Station: Object: Luminescent blackout buttons. History: These glow-in-the-dark buttons were stuck on the wall near light switches, telephones, and doorknobs, so people could find their way around the house during a blackout. Blackouts were sometimes called at night during World War II. During blackouts people had to turn out all their lights, or else pull down heavy black shades over the windows, so that their houses could not be seen by enemy aircraft flying overhead. The Bay Area was never bombed during World War II, but many people thought it might be. The Bay was ringed by army and navy bases, and the docks were full of warships, which were all potential targets for enemy bombs. Gift of Esther Carlson