THE STORY BEHIND THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER CHRISTMAS TREE

It was 1931, Depression times. Construction of Rockefeller Center was in full swing. What better way to bring cheer to New Yorkers and to the construction workers themselves than to put a Christmas tree right in the middle of the construction site.

So, the workers got together and pooled their money to buy a Christmas tree. Unlike the current Norway spruce tree which rises to about 82 feet, the first tree was only 20 feet and was a balsam fir.

The tree was placed in the construction pit by Italian-American workers. For the adornments, families of the workers made paper garlands and added cranberry strings, plus a few tin cans.

The tree was the spot where the workers would line up to receive their paychecks.

Two years later, in 1933, a 50-foot tall tree was placed there and marked the beginning of the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition.