“Holiday in the National Parks” Celebrated at the White House

December 6, 2007

"Holiday in the National Parks" Celebrated at the White House
Dec. 6, 2007 –The national Christmas tree will be lit tonight at the White House, a tradition that is now in its 84th year. This year, America’s national parks are the focus of the White House holiday decorations, highlighting the majesty, history, and diversity of the country’s 391 National Park Service sites.

"It is an amazing honor for the National Park Service to be selected as the theme for the White House holiday decorations by the President and Mrs. Bush," said National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar in a news release last week. "Mrs. Bush is the best champion for our national parks, and the beautiful decorations in each state room showcase the natural and historical treasures found in parks throughout the country."

The holiday displays will feature icons such as the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Statue of Liberty. Paintings of the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Rocky Mountain National Parks will also be displayed and garlands will include park objects such as seashells, pine cones, and gold aspen leaves.

The official White House Christmas tree, a Fraser fir, will have hundreds of handmade ornaments depicting national parks. Artists were selected by the park service to tell the story of the parks. LED lights will be used for the first time ever to save on energy

"National Parks commemorate the people, places, and events that define the American experience," said Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne in the release. "I am so appreciative of President Bush’s efforts to recognize the important role of national parks in American society. Our country will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016 and the President has been instrumental in establishing a Centennial Initiative to prepare the parks for the next century."