Christmas Tree Donations In 1973 the first living National Christmas Tree since the creation of the Pageant of Peace was planted on the Ellipse. The 42-foot Colorado blue spruce from northern Pennsylvania was donated by the National Arborist Association and was meant to serve as a permanent National Christmas Tree. Unfortunately, the tree was dying in 1976 and had to be replaced for the 1977 Pageant of Peace. A new live tree (Colorado Blue Spruce) donated by an anonymous family in Maryland was used for the 1977 program, but blew down in January 1978 during a violent wind storm. A replacement tree, planted in October of 1978, has survived to date under care and attention by National Park Service horticulturalists. It was donated by Mr. and Mrs. William E. Myers and transplanted from their farm in York, Pennsylvania. It was first decorated for the 1978 National Christmas Pageant of Peace and has been used ever since.         Prior to 1973, cut trees were donated for Pageant of Peace as listed in the following table. Year State Donated by Type of Tree 1954 Michigan 60' Balsam Fir 1955 South Dakota 65' White Spruce 1956 New Mexico '65 Englemann Spruce 1957 Minnesota 60' White Spruce 1958 Montana 99' cut to 75' Englemann Spruce 1959 Maine '70 White Spruce 1960 Oregon '78 Douglas Fir 1961 Washington 75' Douglas Fir 1962 Colorado 65' Blue Spruce 1963 West Virginia 66' Red Spruce 1964 New York '72 White Spruce 1965 Arizona '70 Blue Spruce 1966 California '70 Red Fir 1967 Vermont 70' Balsam Fir 1968 Utah 74' Englemann Spruce 1969 New York 75' Adirondacks Spruce 1970 South Dakota '78 White Spruce 1971 North Carolina 70' Fraser Fir 1972 Wyoming 70' Englemann Spruce