Giant Christmas Tree

Durham Museum

The giant Christmas tree in the Durham Museum is an annual tradition dating back to the 1930’s.  Formerly the Union Station (train), the lobby was annually decorated with a giant Christmas tree to welcome holiday travelers coming and going throughout the Midwest.

Initially, Union Pacific railroad employees would cut down a large evergreen along the railroad’s right-of-way in the Pacific Northwest and ship it back to Omaha.  A tree lighting ceremony  on the day after Thanksgiving attracted thousands.

The old train station ultimately became what is now the Durham Museum, which restarted the Christmas tree tradition in 1975.  Each year a local resident donates a giant tree which had grown too large for their lot.  This year’s forty year old spruce stands 43′ tall and came from a home in Ralston, NE.  It’s decorated with over 12,000 lights and basketball-size ornaments.

Thought for the Day:  Gee, do they still make wooden Christmas trees?                                                                                                                                                   Linus