A trip to Washington DC is never complete without visiting the White House. Schedule a trip around Christmas season, and you’ll find plenty of interesting things to do in the state. But if you really want to see something spectacular, head over to the Ellipse to witness the lighting of the most celebrated evergreen in history—the National Christmas Tree.
Every year, local and foreign tourists flock to DC to see the magnificent National Christmas Tree. With 750 strings of white and green LED lights and a 42-inch LED-illuminated star topper, this is one Christmas tree that is surely hard to miss.
Standing over the Ellipse, also known as the President’s Park, is the 40-foot-tall live Colorado blue spruce. Donated by an anonymous family in Maryland, this real Christmas tree was not the first one planted at the Ellipse.
Looking Back
The first-ever live Christmas tree to be planted at the Ellipse south of the White House was brought in December 1923 and was donated by the president of Middlebury College in Vermont. It was a 48-foot Balsam fir, decorated with Christmas tree décor and 2,500 red, white and green electric bulbs donated by the Electric League of Washington.
President Calvin Coolidge lighted the first Christmas tree outside the White House. With a touch of a control button, the towering evergreen was lighted in front of the 3,000 spectators.
The National Christmas Tree did not stay in one place, at least not until 1938. In 1924, it was transferred to Sherman Plaza, near the east entrance of the White House and south of the Main Treasury Building, where it remained until 1934. It was again moved in 1934 at Lafayette Park, north side of the White House. In 1938, it was returned to its original local location at the Ellipse.
Beginning 1954, the attention returned to that majestic tree at the Ellipse. On the same year, the tree lighting ceremony became known as the Pageant of Peace. Instead of lighting the tree on Christmas Eve, President Dwight Eisenhower moved the ceremony to December 17 when tourists can view the tree at their leisure and without worrying about having to rush home for Christmas celebrations.
Symbolic Tradition
Several other live Christmas trees were lit on Christmas Eve at the White House grounds from 1924 to 1953. These trees were decorated by the various embassies, states and U.S. territories. But the lighting of these trees was not as grand as the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the Ellipse.
A total of 56 small evergreen, not artificial trees, were draped with Christmas tree décor to circle the National Christmas Tree. These were collectively called The Pathway to Peace and represent the 50 states of America, its five territories and the District of Columbia.
The National Christmas Tree often remains lit for the whole month of December to January 1st from dusk until 11 p.m. In 1980, the tree was lit for only 417 seconds—symbolic of the number of days hostages were held in captivity in Iran.
In 1985, another symbolic lighting of the tree happened. This time, President George H.W. Bush asked for the tree lights to be turned down to remember the American hostages in Lebanon. The September 11 terrorist attack at the Pentagon was also commemorated in 2001, with children of the victims of 9/11 assisted in the lighting of the tree.
Present Day
The 40-foot tall live Colorado blue spruce also known as the National Christmas Tree was the most celebrated tree in the U.S.A. However, on February 19, 2011, fierce winds toppled down this 47 year-old tree (it was only 15 years old when it was planted in 1978). A replacement for the tree had already been selected, and the old one was chipped and mulched.
