The Roanoke Star, the world's largest man-made star, was erected in 1949 as a symbol of the progressive spirit of Roanoke, the Star City of the South. Its steel structure is 100 feet high, and the star itself is 88 1/2 feet high. The star weighs 10,000 pounds, the steel structure weighs 60,000 pounds, and the concrete base weighs 500,000 pounds with a depth of 6 1/2 feet. It contains 2,000 feet of neon tubing, consumes 17,500 watts of electricity, stands 1,847 feet above sea level and 1,045 feet above the city, is visible from the air for 60 miles, offers several possible color combinations, and is illuminated every night until 12.