National Christmas Tree
The National Christmas Tree is a live evergreen tree planted near the White House and decorated each year to celebrate the Christmas holiday
The National Christmas Tree is one of the oldest holiday traditions in DC; 2019 marks its 96th year. The first National Christmas Tree was a cut tree that was placed in the Ellipse and lit by President Calvin Coolidge in a local community event on Christmas Eve. The tree moved around in various locations near the White House before settling in the Ellipse for good in 1954. I recommend visiting after dark instead of during the day to get the full effect of the lights.
The National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is free to attend but requires a ticket. The ticket lottery opens in October each year, and the lighting usually takes place the week after Thanksgiving. Tickets for the lighting ceremony seem to be harder to get when the current Presidential administration is popular than when it isn’t. If you are lucky enough to get selected in the lottery, you’ll get to see entertainers and special guests perform in a holiday extravaganza as part of the tree lighting. I have attended the lighting one year, and found the experience to be a bit tedious as you have to go through security early and stand around in the cold both before and during the ceremony. The performance stage and security around the tree also prevent most ticket holders from being able to get close to the tree. I prefer to visit the National Christmas Tree after the lighting ceremony is over when it is less crowded.
During the Christmas season, 56 smaller trees – representing each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories – surround the National Christmas Tree. Each tree is decorated with handmade ornaments representing the history and culture of that state or territory. These ornaments are enclosed in clear, plastic Christmas balls to protect them from the elements. The state trees are usually arranged alphabetically around the National Christmas Tree in what is called the Pathway of Peace. I always make sure to find the tree for my home state as well as the tree for DC, which is now home.
The tree that is designated as the National Christmas Tree varied between cut trees and planted trees until a massive letter-writing campaign convinced the National Park Service to permanently switch to a planted tree in 1973. A new National Christmas Tree was planted in October 2019 to replace the previous tree, which had been damaged by a wind storm in 2014 and a protestor who climbed the tree in 2018. When it is not decorated for the holidays, the National Christmas Tree can be identified by a nearby plaque.
Since the National Christmas Tree is a live, planted tree, the lights and decorations are not hung directly on its branches. Instead, a wire frame is erected around the tree to support the decorations without damaging the tree itself. While I understand the need to protect the tree, many people (including myself) don’t care for the artificial look of the National Christmas Tree when decorated this way. The design of the lights and decorations changes each year. The train display at the base of the tree was first set up in 1998 and has grown to include nine trains, multiple trolleys, and 1,000 feet of track.
There are many historic holiday traditions associated with the National Christmas Tree that I wish still existed. In 1935, the tree lighting was marked with chimes ringing on the radio across the country. Reindeer from the National Zoo used to be brought to the Ellipse each year as part of a petting zoo. They were moved to Maine in 1985. If you (like me) are interesting in learning more about the history of the National Christmas Tree, you should check out the detailed timeline on the National Park Service website. Disappointingly, not much information is provided after 2008.
Although I prefer the look of the Capitol Christmas Tree, I love the history of the National Christmas Tree and how it has evolved as our technology and culture have changed over the past century. It’s always worth stopping by to see the National Christmas Tree decked out for the holidays, and I recommend adding it to your list of Christmas adventures this year.
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Address
The Ellipse
Metro Station
- Metro Center (RD, OR, BL, SV)
- Federal Triangle (OR, BL, SV)
- McPherson Square (OR, BL, SV)
- Farragut North (RD)
- Farragut West (OR, BL, SV)
Cost
Free
Free tickets required for the lighting ceremony
Hours
The National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is usually held the Thursday after Thanksgiving.
The 2019 lighting will be on December 5.
The Pathway of Peace is typically open from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. The lights are usually turned on from 4:30 pm to 12:00 am each day until January 1.
Length of Adventure
30 minutes
