South Dakota’s Spirited History as a National Christmas Tree Provider
- Steve Jurrens
- Dec 25, 2025
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - While the Black Hills are renowned for their rugged beauty and granite peaks, they also hold a prestigious place in national holiday history. Since the tradition of the National Christmas Tree began in the 1920s, South Dakota has appeared on the national stage three times to serve as the centerpiece of the country’s holiday celebrations, as recently highlighted in a report by South Dakota News Watch.
According to historical records and fact briefs, the Rushmore State has contributed two trees for the primary National Christmas Tree display on the Ellipse near the White House and a third for the U.S. Capitol.
A Journey of Resilience: The 1970 Tree
Perhaps the most memorable contribution occurred in 1970. What began as a proud moment for the state turned into a series of “cursed” events that tested the spirit of the holiday season. The 78-foot tree, harvested from the Black Hills, faced an arduous journey to Washington, D.C.
· Railroad Mishaps: The train transporting the massive spruce derailed twice while passing through Nebraska.
· Weather Damage: After finally being erected on the Ellipse, high winds gusting over 50 mph blew the tree over the weekend before the official lighting. Workers had to affix new branches to restore its shape painstakingly.
· Electrical Failure: The drama continued even after it was upright. Electrical sockets treated with fireproofing liquid caused a series of small explosions among the bulbs in the lower half of the tree.
Decades of Tradition
South Dakota’s first contribution came in 1955, when a 67-foot Black Hills spruce from Nemo was selected for the display. President Eisenhower lit that tree with a gold telegraph key from his home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a moment commemorated by a sign at the original harvest site.
In 1997, the state was called upon again, this time to provide a Black Hills spruce to stand in front of the U.S. Capitol building.
The tradition of selecting these trees involves significant coordination between the U.S. Forest Service and local communities.
