National Christmas Trees

An American tradition for more than a century, the National Christmas Tree brings together people from all walks of life. Every holiday season, The National Christmas Tree is decorated with thousands of lights and unique decorations. The tree stands as a daily reminder of the holiday spirit and of this cherished national tradition. From thenationaltree.org comes the following interesting facts regarding our National Christmas Tree. 

The National Christmas Tree is located south of the White House on the Ellipse, a 52-acre park located directly south of the White House in Washington, D.C. 

In November 1923, First Lady Grace Coolidge gave permission for the District of Columbia Public Schools to erect a Christmas tree on the Ellipse. The organizers named the tree the “National Christmas Tree.” 

From 1924 to 1953 live trees, in various locations around and on the White House grounds, were lit on Christmas Eve. In 1954 the ceremony returned to the Ellipse. Smaller live trees representing the 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia, formed a “Pathway of Peace.” On December 17, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower lit a cut tree donated by the people of Michigan.

Here’s a look at just a few of our National Christmas Trees and the facts surrounding them.  

In 1945, President Harry Truman lit the National Christmas Tree, which had not been lit since 1941, and delivered a Christmas message. Standing on the bandstand on the South Lawn, he said, “This is the Christmas that a war-weary world has prayed for through long and awful years. With peace come joy and gladness. The gloom of the war years fades as once more we light the National Community Christmas Tree.” Members of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts spoke at the lighting ceremony.

In 1954, Earl C. Hargrove Jr., with his good friend Bill Law, began decorating the National Christmas Tree and Hargrove, Inc. — Earl’s company — has continued that tradition to the present day. The two men trucked in a 60-foot tree and had to secure it in a custom stand. The National Park Service erected several stories of staging to help them. Unfortunately for Hargrove, there was no such thing as a “string” of lights. He manually installed sockets every foot on several hundred feet of wire and screwed in and tested every bulb. When bulbs became a finicky, Hargrove would climb up and fix them in a Santa costume!

In 1963, after the death of President Kennedy on November 22, the lighting ceremony was postponed until the thirty-day period of national mourning had passed. On December 22, President Lyndon Johnson, accompanied by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and daughter Luci, opened the lighting ceremony. General Electric designs the lighting and decorations for the National Christmas Tree for the first time.

In 1978, after the death of two previous live trees planted on the Ellipse, National Park Service horticulturalists searched for a new National Christmas Tree that would be healthy and strong enough to survive a move to the Ellipse. A living National Christmas Tree, a Colorado blue spruce, was planted on the Ellipse on October 20, 1978. The tree hailed from York, Pennsylvania at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Myers. When the tree was six years old it had been planted in the Myers’ front yard as a Mother’s Day gift. The tree was 15 years old and 30 feet tall when it arrived at our nation’s capital. President Jimmy Carter and his daughter Amy were the first to light this special tree. It remains in its location year-round and is decorated and lit for the holidays each year. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic public health concerns, the 2020 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony did not host a live audience. Instead, a festival compilation of Christmas lights and music, national parks, and holiday cheer brought joy into homes across the country in a virtual celebration. 

The 2025 tree was provided by the U.S. Forest Service. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest delivered a 32-foot red spruce to the nation’s capital for the holiday season. In collaboration with the National Park Service, on November 15, the James River and Warm Springs Ranger District selected the tree from the high-elevation mountains of Highland County, Virginia for transport to the White House.  

Let’s be proud of our National Christmas Trees! 

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association Certified Plant Professional, gardening writer, and former Perry High School horticulture instructor. He can be reached at (478)954-1507 or timlewis1@windstream.net.