Washington DC Dec 25th 2008

[pixiedust]

Ok, so here we are - playing tourist in DC - I NEVER do this! The last time I was at the National Christmas Tree was when I was a child and we won't speculate on HOW long ago that was, ok??

This is the back of the PNC Bank Building in DC on 15th Street - I thought it looked pretty..



Here is walking up to the tree:



My stepson Devon at the tree:


Each State in the Union (along with Territories too) gets to decorate their own live tree. These trees surround the National Christmas tree and are very pretty too. I don't remember which one this is (I think it's New Jersey's - I only took pics of ones I was interested in - I didn't see New York's or I would have taken a pic of that one too) and despite my trying to get the signs in that say what they are - it doesn't come out in the pics



A close up of a Christmas Ball on the State tree:



Devon and me - the park service guy happened along and volunteered to take our pic with my camera!!



Devon


There are multiple trains running on the tracks under the tree and villages on either side:





I believe this is the California tree:



District of Columbia's Tree:



Yule Log:


This is the Illinois Tree (I remembered this one as it was right after the Yule log). I didn't get to see the Virginia one



Manger Scene



Santa's Workshop (which was closed so I took pics thru the windows)





National Tree and Back of White House:



Star at the top of the Tree:



This is the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (right around the corner from the White House) where the Vice President works. You may remember that last year there was a fire in the VP's offices and this is where it is - it was decorated nicely and on the way to the White House so I took a pic:



A perspective shot of the front of the Eisenhower EOB:



Can anyone guess what this is for?? I couldn't but thought it was funny - this is NOT the guard's station which is behind this - this is on the sidewalk in front of the Eisenhower EOB:



The front of the White House:



They are building something directly out front for the Inaugeration so we couldn't get a really great shot of the White House from straight out front (so if you watch the Inaugeration and see this - you saw it here first before it was finished!):



This is facing the blue scaffolding and hence, facing the White House:



White House - other side of front - you can see the Washington Monument on the left side:



Devon and me (a nice lady stopped and offered to take our pic and she had a hard time with my camera getting it focused)



Front of PNC Bank:



And finally, the Capital Dome - which is at least a mile away or so - we made it back to my SUV and were getting ready to leave and thought we'd take this pic:


It was a nice (possibly new) tradition - Devon and I enjoyed it - Randy had to work on Christmas so it was just the 2 of us.

Colleen

[Chicago Jake]

Way cool! And very festive. Thanks for taking the time to share all your great pictures......Jake

[innit Geezer]

Nice pictures Col, I'm glad you shared them with us.

[Ardbeg... innit]

Colleen, any word where the National tree came form this year? Weve had a couple trees taken from the surrounding counties to be the National tree in the past couple decades, but its been a while.

[Merlot Joe]

Nice Pictures Colleen. Glad you enjoyed your trip and it sure looked like fun.


Joe.

[Merlot Joe]

Dec 27, 2008 20:10:49 GMT -6 Ardbeg... innit said:

Colleen, any word where the National tree came form this year? .

Home Depot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Just being a smart ass.


Joe

[Ardbeg... innit]

Joe, with a tree that elaborate, I would want one that folds up slides into a box and pops back out pre-decorated next year too.

[Merlot Joe]

Hey we have one of those. Well it has the lights on it you just have to add the rest.


Joe.

[Irish Stu]

Great pictures Colleen. It's always interesting to see Christmas being celebrated in other countries.

Simon

[pixiedust]

Dec 27, 2008 20:10:49 GMT -6 Ardbeg... innit said:

Colleen, any word where the National tree came form this year? Weve had a couple trees taken from the surrounding counties to be the National tree in the past couple decades, but its been a while.

I actually didn't see anything about it so I googled it - we didn't travel in the path closest to the tree the whole way around as there were too many people and after a few minutes it really was a lesson in frustration - we took the outside path which led eventually to the yule log and Santa's Workshop and the Navitity scene and had less people - so we were at the top quarter of the tree on the inside and then in my shots looking at the back of the White House we weren't on that part of the path at all and did not see any more signs saying anything about the tree.

Here is what I found online - which I did not know:

Since 1923, the United States has held a tradition of lighting a National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC. In 1978, a live 40-foot Colorado blue spruce was transplanted from York, Pennsylvania to its present site on the Ellipse, the grassy area south of the White House. In 1954, a "Pathway of Peace," 56 smaller, decorated trees representing all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia were planted surrounding the National Christmas Tree. Each year sponsoring organizations from each state provide tree decorations that are encased in a protective plastic globe to shield it from the weather.

The tree itself looks like a plastic tree that they put up in sections that are pre lit to me. They have those in Georgetown in Washington DC so that is what I thought it was. I guess it's real and maybe they put the caging over it with the lights, I'm not sure.

If I had to guess, Gordon - those trees you speak of were taken directly to the White House - there is a quite large one on the front porch of the White House that is lit up that you unfortunately (due to the angle) cannot see in any of my pics - I'll check them again and see if in one of the shots you can see it better. I also know they do use real trees in the White House for decoration (I've seen them decorating them on HGTV)...

Colleen

[pixiedust]

I uploaded these to large size - not sure if you can see it or not from here - look in the center of the front of the verranda







And from the other side - the only shot I could get with the fountain in the front:

[Chicago Jake]

I wonder how long it will be before the concept of a "National Christmas Tree" is deemed Christian-centric, an unacceptable blending of Church and State, and Politically Incorrect. I'll bet it's soon......Jake