National Christmas Tree

Author: Ellen Bell

While many historians attribute the first National Christmas Tree to President Calvin Coolidge in 1923, there was another, less known tree ceremony that occurred in Washington a decade earlier. On December 24, 1913 in the East Plaza of the U.S.
Capitol, the Washington Community Christmas Tree was lit for the first time. A crowd of 20,000 looked on while the President's Marine Band performed and was accompanied by a chorus of one thousand singers. Woodrow Wilson and the Vice President, Thomas Marshal, organized this event, which was later named "a Civic Christmas."

A decade later, in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit the Community Christmas Tree on the Ellipse, just south of the White House. The tree was donated by Middlebury College in the President's home state of Vermont. Though Calvin Coolidge declined to speak at the event, he did turn the switch to light the tree. The Greater Washington Board of Trade was one of several civic organizations to lead the event, and organizers declared the tree to be the "National Christmas Tree."

In 1973 a living 42 foot Colorado blue spruce was moved from Pennsylvania and transplanted to serve as a permanent National Christmas tree. This tree was donated by the National Arborist Association. Unfortunately, the tree was short lived and 1976 was the last year this tree was decorated and then lighted.

A new 30 foot Colorado blue spruce was transplanted in 1976 to again serve as a permanent tree. This tree was donated anonymously by a family from Maryland. In another strike of bad luck, this tree was destroyed by a gusty windstorm in 1978. It was only used for one year.

The next tree was donated by the Myers family and was transplanted from their farm in York, Pennsylvania in 1978. The tree was 15 years old at the time it was moved, and it was originally a Mother's Day gift to Mrs. Myers. This tree still stands today and is cared for by the National Park Service horticulturalist.

In 1979 and 1980, the new tree remained un-lit except for one small ornament at the top of the tree. President Carter made this decision in honor of the Americans being held hostage in Iran. In 1980, the National Broadcasters Association did sponsor a short lighting ceremony for 417 seconds, commemorating each day the hostages had been held in captivity. The American hostages were finally released on January 20, 1981, only minutes after Ronald Reagan's inauguration. The National Christmas Tree was quickly decorated and lighted as the plane carrying the former hostages cleared Iran's airspace.

Ever since then, the National Christmas tree has been decorated and lighted each year. It is tradition for the President to flip the switch to light the tree during an official ceremony that is nationally televised. The National Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off a month of events and festivities called the Pageant of Peace. It is also tradition for the Vice President's wife to place the star at the top of the tree with the help of the Chairman of the pageant.

Some other changes have been made in recent years. With the trend toward environmental awareness and increased energy consciousness, in 1995 the lights for the National Christmas Tree were powered by solar energy for the first time. Since 2007, the lights have been switched over to energy-saving LED lights. The tree's top star has since been refurbished with LED lights, as well.

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