The 99th Annual Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree event is taking place on December 8th at 2 p.m. at the historic Grant Tree in Grant Grove, Kings Canyon National Park. The official ceremony will begin at 2:30p.m. This cherished tradition celebrates the Nation’s Christmas Tree, the General Grant Tree, which holds a significant place in our nation’s history. December 8th is a free entrance day at Sequoia and Kings Canyon. 

The General Grant Tree is fittingly called the Nation’s Christmas Tree due to its remarkable age and imposing size. Towering at 268 feet, this magnificent giant is among the oldest trees in the world, having stood on this spot for millennia. It was officially designated as the Nation’s Christmas Tree on April 28, 1926, by President Calvin Coolidge. 

The General Grant Tree was further honored when it was designated a National Shrine by Congress, through public law 441, on March 29, 1956. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, serving as the personal representative of the President of the United States, officially dedicated the tree on November 11, 1956, during a special ceremony held at its base as a perpetual shrine in memory of the men and women of the Armed Forces who have served and fought and died to keep this Nation free. 

The roots of the Trek to the Tree tradition can be traced back to 1925, inspired by R.J. Senior, then President of the Sanger Chamber of Commerce, and Charles E. Lee, then Secretary. The idea was sparked when R.J. Senior, while admiring the grandeur of the tree, was met by a young girl who expressed “what a wonderful Christmas tree it would be!” The following year, Senior, Lee, and friends trekked through the winter landscape to hold a brief service at the magnificent tree, beginning a tradition that has continued for nearly a century. 

Join us this December 8th as we honor the legacy of the General Grant Tree and celebrate the spirit of community and remembrance. Parking at the Grant Tree is limited, consider arriving early to park at the Grant Grove Village and allow for time to walk to the tree.  

[SOURCE: Holly Streit, SEKI Public Affairs Specialist]