Exhibitions

1978 Trees of Christmas

December 15, 1978 – January 1, 1979

National Museum of American History
1300 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC

1st and 2nd Floors

See on Map Floor Plan

See 13 live trees, each decorated with hand-made ornaments of different American of foreign tradition. Trees marked with a '+' are new this year.

1st Floor:

  • + Chrismon tree hung with early Christmas symbols (Evangelical Lutheran Church, Danville VA)
  • Russian tree hung with Faberge-like balls
  • Pioneer tree trimmed with pomander balls, acorn clusters, yarn dolls, and cookies
  • Tidewater Plantation tree with needlepoint ornaments, gilded nuts, paper tissue cut-outs and popcorn and cranberry strings
  • + Needleworked liturgical symbols in beadwork and embroidery (Dixie Rettig, Alexandria, VA)
  • + Needleworked liturgical symbols in gold thread on silk fabric (Sara Hamilton, Vienna, VA) 
  • + Tree decorated with natural dried materials—flowers, fruits and cones (Office of Horticulture)

2nd Floor:

  • Williamsburg Folk Art tree - ornaments made from natural materials, including sea shells
  • U.S. Community tree - varied ornaments that reflect many ethnic origins
  • Tree of Denmark, with straw ornaments, hearts and Danish flags
  • + Polish tree - wooden and straw toys, figures and stars (Polish Arts Club of Washington)
  • American Victorian - paper chains, cookies, candies, glass balls, cornucopias, small gifts and toys
  • + Lithuanian - natural straw ornaments and garlands interspersed with decorated eggs (National Lithuanian Trust)