• View of the White House's north side from Layfatte Park

    President's Park (White House)

    District of Columbia

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  • White House Tours canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013

    We regret to inform you that White House Tours are canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013, until further notice. For updates regarding this situation, please contact the White House Visitors Office 24 hour hotline at (202) 456-7041.

  • White House Visitor Center Rehabilitation and Closure Information

    The White House Visitor Center is closed for rehabilitation. A temporary visitor center is located near the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, just west of the intersection of 15th and E streets, NW.

National Christmas Tree Timeline

A Brief Timeline of the National Christmas Tree

Explore the timeline below for more information on some of the trees and the various locations where the tree lighting ceremonies have taken place over the years.

 
Timeline will be displayed here

The National Christmas Trees
1923 National Christmas Tree 1923
First National Christmas Tree
The first National Christmas Tree placed on the Ellipse.
 
1927 National Christmas Tree 1924
Sherman Plaza
Between 1924 and 1933, the National Christmas Tree was located in Sherman Plaza.
 
1934 National Christmas Tree 1934
Lafayette Park
From 1934 to 1938, the National Christmas Tree was in Lafayette Park.
 
The Ellipse, south of the White House. 1939
The Ellipse
From 1939 to 1940, the National Christmas Tree was on the Ellipse.
 
Roosevelt speaks at the 1941 National Christmas Tree 1941
White House South Lawn
From 1941 to 1953, the National Christmas Tree was located on the South Lawn of the White House
 
1956 National Christmas Tree 1954
The Ellipse
The National Christmas Tree returned to the Ellipse in 1954 and is still there.
 

Did You Know?

The Ellipse, 1930's, Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

The Ellipse was home to one of the country's earliest baseball parks.  President Abraham Lincoln, missed one of his weekly Cabinet meetings to attend a game on September 18 1861 where the Brooklyn Excelsiors beat the Washington Nationals.  The score was 33-28.