Christmas In The White House Views
The White House Christmas Tree, also known as the Blue Room Christmas Tree, is the official indoor Christmas tree at the residence of the President of the United States, the White House. The first indoor Christmas tree was installed in the White House sometime in the 19th century (there are varying claims as to the exact year) and since 1961 the tree has had a themed motif at the discretion of the First Lady of the United States.
Depending on which sources are consulted, the White House never had a Christmas tree until the 1850s or 1889.[1] There are two claims to the first genuine White House Christmas tree. President Franklin Pierce is said to have had the first indoor Christmas tree at the White House during the 1850s,[2] variously reported as 1853[3] or 1856.[4] Others claim the first tree was during President Benjamin Harrison's administration (either in 1889,[5] or 1891).[2] First Lady Caroline Harrison helped decorate the tree, which was installed in the second floor oval parlor today's Yellow Oval Room.[5] Harrison was credited with installing the first White House Christmas tree by the White House web site during the presidency of George W. Bush.[6]
Following the Harrison administration indoor trees were not always used at the White House. First Lady Lou Henry Hoover began the tradition of presidential wives decorating the White House tree with the first official White House Christmas tree in 1929.[5] In 1961 First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of selecting a theme for the White House Christmas tree by decorating with a Nutcracker motif.[7]
As stated, there were years where no indoor White House Christmas tree was installed at all. It is verifiable that there was no Christmas tree in the White House in 1902,[8] 1904,[9] and 1922.[10] The lack of a tree in 1902 was due to the fact that President Theodore Roosevelt had not ordered one by December 23.[8]
Christmas In The White House Images
