DID YOU KNOW?

In 1904, Hotel del Coronado made history when it unveiled the world’s first electrically lighted, outdoor living Christmas tree. To accomplish this feat, electric lights were strung from the hotel — at that time one of the largest buildings in America to have electricity — to a nearby Norfolk Island pine. The lights were probably made on-site.

Although indoor Christmas trees had become popular in America by this time, electric Christmas lights were all but unheard of, and there is no record of an illuminated exterior tree that predates The Del’s 1904 tree.

The San Diego Union reported Dec. 25, 1904: “…All day yesterday electricians were busy fitting it up and by night 250 lights of many colors gave beauty to the fine old pine. Lanterns, great and small, hung from its boughs.”

According to the article, The Del’s holiday tree was lighted every night from 7-10 p.m., starting Christmas Eve and continuing through Dec. 31. Today, the same Norfolk pine is part of a grove of pines on The Del’s Founder’s Lawn and the center of a light show that runs every half hour from 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 1. ■

— Gina Petrone, heritage manager Hotel del Coronado

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOTEL DEL CORONADO