The Story
National Christmas Tree History (1923–1933 + Origins)
Here’s how the National Christmas Tree began — and how it evolved in the early years.
1. The Very First Tree (1923)
It all started on December 24, 1923. The idea came from engineer Frederick Morris Feiker to help promote electric Christmas lights nationwide.
A 48-foot balsam fir from Vermont — donated by Middlebury College — was shipped to Washington DC and decorated with over 2,500 red, white, and green bulbs.
At 5 p.m., President Calvin Coolidge pressed a button and lit America’s first National Christmas Tree.”
The First Living Tree (1924)
“In 1924, things changed. A living 35-foot Norway spruce was planted in Sherman Plaza, just south of the Treasury Building, donated by the American Forestry Association.
It was the first living National Christmas Tree — and the only year they used a physical switch for the lighting.”
Growing Traditions (1925–1929)
“The ceremony grew fast. School choirs sang, the Marine Band played, and local civic groups organized everything.
In 1926, a signal flare launched when the tree lit up — and Boy Scouts played bugle calls across D.C.
By 1929, the original tree was worn out, so a new Norway spruce was planted — and ornaments appeared for the first time.”
Evolving Ceremony (1927–1933)
“By the late 1920s and early ’30s, the lighting ceremony became more official.
They added a bronze marker naming it the ‘National Community Christmas Tree,’ upgraded lighting with floodlamps and multicolor bulbs, and expanded decorations — laying the foundation for the tradition we know today.”
What It Became
“Since 1939, the tree has stood on the Ellipse, and since 1954, the ceremony has opened the Pageant of Peace — surrounded by state and territory trees on the Pathway of Peace.”
From a balsam fir in 1923 to the spruce on the Ellipse today — the National Christmas Tree is a glowing piece of American holiday history.
