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White House Christmas tree facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The White House Christmas Tree, also known as the Blue Room Christmas Tree, is the official indoor Christmas tree at the home of the President of the United States, the White House. The first indoor Christmas tree was put up in the White House sometime in the 1800s. Since 1961, the tree has had a special theme chosen by the First Lady of the United States.

A Look Back: The Tree's History

When Was the First Tree?

1962 White House Christmas Tree - John and Jacqueline Kennedy 1
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with the first themed Blue Room tree in 1961.

There are different ideas about when the very first Christmas tree appeared in the White House. Some say President Franklin Pierce had the first indoor tree in the 1850s. Other sources believe it was President Benjamin Harrison who had the first tree, either in 1888, 1889, or 1891. His wife, First Lady Caroline Harrison, even helped decorate it. This tree was placed in a room called the Yellow Oval Room today.

How the Tradition Grew

After President Harrison, indoor trees were not always used at the White House. First Lady Lou Henry Hoover started a new tradition in 1929. She was the first presidential wife to decorate an "official" White House Christmas tree.

A big change happened in 1961. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy started the tradition of choosing a special theme for the White House Christmas tree. Her first theme was based on the famous ballet, Nutcracker.

Years Without a Tree

Not every year had an indoor White House Christmas tree. For example, there was no tree in 1902, 1904, 1907, and 1922. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt simply didn't order one in time.

Some presidents never displayed a tree at all. The first U.S. President, George Washington, lived before the White House was built. There is also no proof that Abraham Lincoln ever had a Christmas tree there. In 1922, First Lady Florence Harding was sick, so the Christmas celebration was quieter, and no tree was put up.

The Official White House Christmas Tree

What the Tree Looks Like

Laura Bush and the arrival of the Christmas tree
The 2007 Blue Room Christmas tree arrives by horse-drawn carriage.

The White House Christmas tree is chosen from special farms across the country. Farms in North Carolina have provided the most trees, sending 12 so far. Washington and Wisconsin are tied for second, each providing seven trees.

Since 1961, the official White House Christmas tree has often been displayed in the Blue Room. Sometimes, it has also been in the Entrance Hall. The White House usually has many Christmas trees. For example, in 1997, there were 36 trees, and in 2008, there were 27. But the tree in the Blue Room is always the main, official one.

This special tree is usually very tall, almost 20 feet high! The crystal chandelier in the Blue Room even has to be removed to make space for it. The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) donates the Blue Room tree every year. They have been doing this since 1966. The tree is chosen through a fun competition among the tree growers.

Official Blue Room Trees (1961–2020)

Here are some examples of the official White House Christmas trees and their themes:

Image Year Species and location grown Ornamentation notes First Lady Location Theme
2020 Fraser fir, Shepherdstown, West Virginia Students from all over the country created art showing what makes their state beautiful. These mini masterpieces decorated the tree. Melania Trump Blue Room America the Beautiful
2019 Colorado blue spruce, Palmyra, Pennsylvania Melania Trump Blue Room The Spirit of America
2018 Fraser fir, Newland, North Carolina Melania Trump Blue Room American Treasures
2017 Balsam fir, Endeavor, Wisconsin Melania Trump Blue Room Time-Honored Traditions - the Gift of Holiday
2016 Douglas fir, Oconto, Wisconsin Michelle Obama Blue Room The Gift of the Holidays
2015 Fraser fir, Lehighton, Pennsylvania This tree honored our nation's service members, veterans, and their families. It had messages of hope for troops and patriotic red, white, and blue symbols. Michelle Obama Blue Room A Timeless Tradition
2014 Blue Room Tree 1.jpg 2014 Concolor fir, Lehighton, Pennsylvania The tree's theme was "America the Brave." Children from U.S. military bases worldwide made the ornaments, including thank-you cards for military members. Michelle Obama Blue Room A Children's Winter Wonderland
Blue Room Tree - 2012.jpg 2012 Fraser fir, Jefferson, North Carolina This tree was dedicated to U.S. military members, veterans, and their families. Children living on military bases decorated the ornaments. Michelle Obama Blue Room Joy to All
2010 - Blue Room Tree.jpg 2010 Douglas fir, Lehighton, Pennsylvania The tree honored state and county fairs. It featured prize ribbons from every state and territory. Michelle Obama Blue Room "Simple Gifts"
A team of volunteers decorates the official White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room of the White House.jpg 2009 Douglas fir, Shepherdstown, West Virginia About 800 old ornaments were sent to community groups across the country. They decorated them to honor local landmarks and sent them back for display. Michelle Obama Blue Room Reflect, Rejoice, Renew
2008 - Blue Room Tree.jpg 2008 Fraser fir, Crumpler, North Carolina Artists from around the country designed patriotic ornaments. Members of Congress selected these artists. Laura Bush Blue Room A Red, White, and Blue Christmas
2007 Blue Room Tree - Laura & G.W. Bush.jpg 2007 Fraser fir, Laurel Springs, North Carolina Each ornament represented one of the 391 National Park Service sites. Laura Bush Blue Room Holiday in the National Parks
2006 Blue Room Christmas tree.jpg 2006 Douglas fir, Lehighton, Pennsylvania Decorated with crystals and ornaments of shiny glass. Laura Bush Blue Room Deck the Halls and Welcome All
2005 Blue Room Christmas tree.jpg 2005 Fraser fir, Laurel Springs, North Carolina Featured white lilies, crystal balls, and sparkling garland. Laura Bush Blue Room All Things Bright and Beautiful
2004 Blue Room Tree.jpg 2004 Noble fir, Rochester, Washington Musical instruments were hand-painted by artists. Laura Bush Blue Room A Season of Merriment and Melody
2003 Blue Room Christmas tree.jpg 2003 Fraser fir, Wisconsin Ornaments first used by Barbara Bush in 1989 were reused. Laura Bush Blue Room A Season of Stories
2002 Blue Room Christmas tree.jpg 2002 Noble fir, Elma, Washington An artist from each state designed an ornament based on a bird native to their state. Laura Bush Blue Room All Creatures Great and Small
2001 Blue Room Christmas tree.jpg 2001 White fir, Middleburg, Pennsylvania An artist from each state designed tiny models of historic houses from their area. Laura Bush Blue Room Home for the Holidays
Bill and Hillary Clinton Christmas portrait 2000.jpg 2000 Douglas fir, Auburn, Pennsylvania Ornaments were from the First Lady's past. Hillary Clinton Blue Room Holiday Reflections
1999 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1999 Noble fir, Elma, Washington Doll makers created toys of American historical figures for this tree. Hillary Clinton Blue Room Holiday Treasures at the White House
1998 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1998 Balsam fir, Endeavor, Wisconsin Knitting and painting artists from each state worked on the ornaments. Hillary Clinton Blue Room Winter Wonderland
1997 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1997 Fraser fir, Grassy Creek, North Carolina Needlework and fashion designers, along with glass artists, created the decorations. Hillary Clinton Blue Room Santa's Workshop
1996 Blue Room Christmas tree.jpg 1996 Colorado blue spruce, Coshocton, Ohio Woodcraft artists and ballet companies helped with the ornaments. Hillary Clinton Blue Room Nutcracker Suite
1995 Blue Room Christmas tree.jpg 1995 Fraser fir, North Carolina Ornaments were made by American architecture students and architects. Hillary Clinton Blue Room A Visit From St. Nicholas
1994 Blue Room Christmas tree.png 1994 Blue spruce, Missouri Ornaments were made by American art students. Hillary Clinton Blue Room The Twelve Days of Christmas
1993 Blue Room Christmas tree - Hillary Clinton.png 1993 Fraser fir, North Carolina More than 1,000 artists made angel-themed ornaments. Hillary Clinton Blue Room Angels
1992 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1992 Grand fir, Oregon White House florists made 88 gift-giving characters. Barbara Bush Blue Room Gift-givers
1991 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1991 Noble fir, Salem, Oregon A needlepoint village and Noah's Ark pieces were created for the tree. Barbara Bush Blue Room Needle work tree
1990 - Blue Room Tree.jpg 1990 Fraser fir, North Carolina Featured tiny porcelain dancers. Barbara Bush Blue Room Nutcracker Suite
1989 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1989 Fraser fir, Pennsylvania White House staff created 80 soft-sculpture characters from books. Barbara Bush Blue Room Family literacy
1988 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1988 Balsam fir, Montello, Wisconsin Reused old glass ornaments and state flower balls. Carpenters made wood candles. Nancy Reagan Blue Room Old-fashioned tree
1987 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1987 Fraser fir, West Virginia Mini instruments, notes, and sheet music were made by patients at Second Genesis. Nancy Reagan Blue Room Musical theme
1986 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1986 Fraser fir, Washington 15 soft-sculpture nursery rhyme scenes and 100 geese were made by patients at Second Genesis. Nancy Reagan Blue Room Mother Goose theme
1985 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1985 Blue spruce, Lake City, Michigan 1,500 ornaments were made by patients at Second Genesis. Nancy Reagan Blue Room Ornaments made from Christmas cards sent to the Reagans in 1984.
1984 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1984 Fraser fir, North Carolina Ornaments were made by patients at Second Genesis. Nancy Reagan Blue Room Ornaments made from natural plant materials.
1983 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1983 Noble fir, Orting, Washington Reused 1982 ornaments and added old-fashioned toys from a museum. Nancy Reagan Blue Room Old-Fashioned toys.
Nancy Reagan tree trimming.jpg 1982 Fraser fir, North Carolina Ornaments were made by patients at Second Genesis. Nancy Reagan Blue Room Foil paper cones and metallic snowflakes
1981 Blue Room Tree in The White House.jpg 1981 Douglas fir, Pennsylvania Ornaments were loaned by the Museum of American Folk Art. Nancy Reagan Blue Room Ornaments from the Museum of American Folk Art.
1980 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1980 Douglas fir, Bristol, Indiana Decorated with dolls, hats, fans, tapestries, and laces. Rosalynn Carter Blue Room Victorian theme
1979 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1979 Douglas fir, West Virginia Art students created ornaments from balsa wood, fabric, and dried flowers. Rosalynn Carter Blue Room American folk art of the colonial period
1978 Blue Room Christmas tree.png 1978 Veitch fir, New York Victorian dolls and tiny furniture were loaned from a museum. Rosalynn Carter Blue Room Antique toys
1977 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1977 Noble fir, Washington A group called the National Association for Retarded Citizens made eggshell ornaments. Rosalynn Carter Blue Room Painted milkweed pods, nut pods, foil, and eggshell ornaments.
1976 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1976 Balsam fir, Wisconsin Natural ornaments were made by the Garden Club of America. Betty Ford Blue Room "Love that is the spirit of Christmas"
1975 - Blue Room Tree.jpg 1975 Douglas fir, New York Ornaments from 1974 were reused. Experts made new ones from paper snowflakes, acorns, dried fruits, pinecones, vegetables, straw, cookies, and yarn. Betty Ford Blue Room Old-fashioned children's Christmas
1974 - Blue Room Tree.jpg 1974 Concolor fir, Mayville, Michigan Ornaments were made by women from Appalachia and senior citizen groups. Betty Ford Blue Room Handmade crafts, thrift, and recycling
1973 Fraser fir, North Carolina In honor of James Madison. Pat Nixon Blue Room Gold theme
1972 Blue Room Christmas Tree.jpg 1972 Noble fir, Washington Reused 1969 ornaments, and added 3,000 pastel satin balls and 150 gold federal stars. Pat Nixon Blue Room Still Life with Fruit and Nature’s Bounty, paintings by Severin Roesen
Pat Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower Examine One of the Handmade State Christmas Tree Ornaments.jpg 1971 Fraser fir, North Carolina Reused 1969 ornaments, and added Monroe fans and gold foil angels. Pat Nixon Blue Room American Flower Tree
1970 White spruce, Wisconsin Reused 1969 ornaments, and added 53 Monroe fans. Pat Nixon Blue Room American Flower Tree
1969 White House Christmas Tree.jpg 1969 Blue spruce, Ohio Disabled workers from Florida made velvet and satin balls featuring each state's state flower. Pat Nixon North Entrance American Flower Tree
1968 Blue Room Christmas tree - Lynda Bird Johnson.jpg 1968 White pine, Indianapolis Decorated in a 19th-century American style with gingerbread cookies. Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson Blue Room 19th century gingerbread tree
1967 Blue spruce, Ohio Similar to 1965–66, but with silver baubles, silver stars, and round mirrors added. Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson Blue Room Early American
1966 Blue Room Christmas Tree.jpg 1966 Balsam fir, Wisconsin Traditional ornaments: nuts, fruit, popcorn, dried seedpods, gingerbread cookies, and wood roses from Hawaii. Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson Blue Room Early American
1965 Blue Room Christmas Tree.jpg 1965 Traditional ornaments: nuts, fruit, popcorn, dried seedpods, gingerbread cookies, and wood roses from Hawaii. Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson Blue Room Early American
1964 Blue Room Christmas Tree.jpg 1964 Balsam fir Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson Blue Room
1963 Blue Room Tree 2.jpg 1963 The tree was very simple because the nation was sad after John F. Kennedy's death. Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson Blue Room
1962 Entrance Hall (Official White House) Christmas tree - Jack and Jacqueline Kennedy.jpg 1962 Reused ornaments from 1961, plus others made by disabled people and senior citizens. Jacqueline Kennedy North Entrance Childhood
1961 Blue Room Tree.jpg 1961 Balsam fir Toys, birds, and angels designed after Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite ballet. Jacqueline Kennedy Blue Room Nutcracker Suite

Other White House Christmas Trees Over Time

Here are some other Christmas trees that have been displayed in the White House:

Year Species and location grown General notes First Lady Location Theme (if any)
1960 Presents were piled high under a beautiful tree in the East Room. Mamie Eisenhower East Room
1959 There were 26 trees, including one in the laundry room and one for David Eisenhower. Mamie Eisenhower 26 trees throughout the White House
1958 Decorated with electric candle lights, glass balls, and lots of tinsel. Mamie Eisenhower 27 trees throughout the White House
1957 Mamie Eisenhower East Room
1955 Mamie Eisenhower East Room
1954 Decorated with silver tinsel. The Eisenhower grandchildren opened presents under this tree. Mamie Eisenhower East Room
1947 Bess Truman East Room
1944 The Christmas tree was decorated, and piles of presents were ready for unwrapping. Eleanor Roosevelt Family quarters
1939 Eleanor Roosevelt East Room
1937 Sparkled with snow and silver decorations. Eleanor Roosevelt East Room
1936 Eleanor Roosevelt East Room
1934 Many trees were put up. Some were for the public, and others were for the Roosevelt family. A large tree was in the East Room. Eleanor Roosevelt East Room
1929 This was the first "official" White House tree. Lou Henry Hoover
1926 Mrs. Coolidge chose to have three Christmas trees at the White House. Grace Coolidge
1923 Norway spruce The White House had two Christmas trees. Grace Coolidge Blue Room, and family quarters
1917 Edith Bolling Wilson
1916 The tree was for Wilson's great niece Josephine Cothran. Edith Bolling Wilson Library
1915 Filled with gifts from family members and the household staff. Edith Bolling Wilson Library
1914 none White House library
1912 Helen Herron Taft Blue Room
1908 The first time a tree was in the Roosevelt White House that wasn't just for young Archie Roosevelt. Edith Roosevelt
1905 The tree was decorated by Archie Roosevelt. He was the only family member who loved Christmas trees, and he gave out presents using it. Edith Roosevelt
1903 The tree was decorated only by young Archie Roosevelt. Edith Roosevelt Living Room (The President's Den) (then Archie Roosevelt's bedroom)
1896 Decorated with red, white, and blue electric lights. Mrs. Cleveland oversaw the decorating, which included tinsel and toys. Frances Cleveland Library
1895 Cedar The tree featured electric lights. Frances Cleveland Library
1894 "Beautifully trimmed and decorated" with "tiny multi-colored electric lamps instead of old wax candles." Frances Cleveland Library
1893 Frances Cleveland Library
1891 Caroline Harrison Library
1890 At least one tree was displayed "for the little ones." Caroline Harrison
1889 Foxtail hemlock Decorated with glass balls, pendants, and gold tinsel. Four-sided lanterns used candles for lighting. This is often said to be the first White House Christmas tree, but some disagree. Caroline Harrison Yellow Oval Room
1888 ". . . tree loaded with gifts for most of the important people in Washington." Frances Cleveland East Room
1853 or 1856 Decorated for a group of school children from Washington, D.C. This is also claimed to be the first White House Christmas tree, but it is debated. Jane Pierce

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