The White House has experienced numerous firsts around the celebration of Christmas, sometimes establishing holiday traditions that spread nationwide. Benjamin Harrison, in 1889, became the first president to set up a holiday tree inside the White House for the pleasure of family, staff, and visitors. Five years later, Grover Cleveland replaced the decorative candles traditionally used to illuminate the White House tree with a string of electric lights, an innovation made possible by the introduction of electricity to the White House in 1891. The public took notice, and before long, family Christmas trees around the country were similarly decorated.
It wasn't until 1923, however, that a Christmas tree was placed in proximity to the White House for the public to enjoy. That tree, complete with lights and decorations, came to be known as the National
