Montana's Second National Christmas Tree

Montana has three times contributed the nation’s official Christmas tree, in 1958, 1989, and most recently in 2008. The second time, 1989, was the year Montana celebrated its statehood centennial. That year the national Christmas tree came from the Kootenai National Forest in Lincoln County. In October of 1989, the Capitol Christmas Tree Committee advertised for a woodcutter to cut the chosen tree. The committee was looking for a person with community involvement who knew how to use a chain saw. They found their man in Bill Crismore, president of the Montana Logging Association, who was a Libby resident active in the community. On Saturday November 18, a crowd gathered to see the giant Engelmann Spruce felled. But as Crismore’s chainsaw did its work, the tree had a mind of its own and fell the wrong way, narrowly missing 300 spectators. Attached cables diverted its path, and the tree fell across a truck instead of into the road. Efforts to move it caused its upper trunk to snap, and the tree could not be used.

Bozeman Daily Chronicle, November 19, 1989
Clipping from the Montana Historical Society Research Center vertical file

Fortunately, there was another choice that had actually been the favorite in the first place. The 43-year-old, 67-foot Engelmann Spruce was soon felled and on its way to Washington, D.C. The limbs of the broken tree were cut and sent along with the new tree for use in case its branches were broken in transit. Crismore later said ruefully that had he known so many people would be present, he would have chosen the second tree anyhow. People milling around and children running in and out impeded his work and made the felling more dangerous and difficult to calculate.


Preparing the tree for its trip to DC. Western News, November 1989
Clipping from the Montana Historical Society Research Center vertical file

Montana’s First National Christmas Tree

Montana has donated the national Christmas tree displayed outside on the White House lawn three times:  in 1958, 1989, and 2008. The tradition of the national tree stretches back to President Calvin Coolidge. During his administration in 1923, the Society for Electrical Development conceived the idea of a national decorated tree to encourage electricity and electric lighting in holiday decorating.

The first national Christmas tree was lit on December 24, 1923.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, National Photo Company Collection, LC-F81- 28049

The national outdoor tree has since become the official symbol of the holiday season, but also symbolizes current events. For example, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II blackouts prevented lighting the tree; in 1980 the tree was only fully lit for 417 seconds, each second symbolized each day hostages had been in captivity in Iran; in 1985, lights were dimmed on Christmas Eve in observance of American hostages in Lebanon, and in 2001 families of victims of 9/11 participated in the lighting of the tree. The trees have come from across the nation. Sometimes they have been cut trees, and sometimes living trees that were later planted. In 1958, Montana got its first turn to supply the national tree. The Libby Chamber of Commerce presented President Dwight Eisenhower with an Engelmann Spruce cut in the Kootenai National Forest. The tree was 99 feet tall, but cut 24 feet up its base to make a 75-foot tree. The tree, weighing some 5,000 pounds, rested on two flatbed rail cars with its branches wrapped and cradled for the 2,490-mile journey from Libby to Washington, D.C. President Eisenhower tripped the electric switch on December 24. Today, trees are lit early in December to allow a longer holiday season.

Friday Photo: Libby Logger Days

Libby Logger Days started yesterday and runs through the weekend. Are you going?

Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, PAc 2002-62 E1B-10890

Competitors put muscle into the cross-cut saw (also known as the misery whip) at Libby Logger Days. Photo by Bill Browning. Date unknown.

Friday Photo: Electricity Comes to Libby

Aren't you glad that safety standards have come a long way since then?

From Montana Views. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, PAc 97-14.8

The caption in the lower corner reads: "Stringing the first electric light wires in Libby Mont July 1911." Photographer unknown.