Flashback Dec. 1904: When Coronado lit the 1st electric Christmas tree in the U.S.

Think your Christmas tree is impressive? On Dec. 25, 1904, Coronado outshone just about everyone.

That’s when the Hotel del Coronado unveiled what is widely regarded — and still debated — as the first electrically illuminated outdoor living Christmas tree in the United States. The towering Norfolk Island pine, planted on the hotel’s grounds when the resort opened in 1888, was strung with roughly 250 white electric bulbs, glowing against the Pacific backdrop at a time when electricity itself was still a novelty.

The sight was nothing short of astonishing. In 1904, most American homes relied on gas lamps or candles, and only a minority of families even had Christmas trees at all. A massive, living tree illuminated outdoors with electricity — visible from across Coronado — felt almost magical. For many who gathered on the hotel’s lawn that season, it was their first glimpse of electricity being used not for industry or necessity, but for celebration.

As with many “firsts” tied to Christmas traditions, the Coronado claim comes with nuance. Historical records show that the Edison Electric Light Co. illuminated a cut outdoor tree with electric lights in 1882. What distinguishes the Hotel del Coronado’s display is that its tree was living, rooted in the ground — a distinction that has earned it lasting recognition in holiday history.

The tree itself had already been part of the hotel’s landscape for more than a decade. By 1904, the Norfolk Island pine stood about 50 feet tall, its branches adorned not only with lights but also garlands and lanterns, according to contemporary accounts. Visitors and locals alike flocked to the hotel’s front lawn, cementing the tree as both a seasonal attraction and a symbol of Coronado’s growing reputation as a premier West Coast resort.

Tradition Evolves

Over time, the tradition evolved. In 1914, the hotel switched to colored lights, and a bright white star was added to the top of the tree. The annual lighting became a cherished ritual — until World War II, when coastal blackout regulations forced the display to go dark for safety reasons during the war years.

After the war, the lights returned, and the tree continued to grow — literally and figuratively. Today, the original Norfolk Island pine towers at approximately 140 feet, one of the most recognizable natural features on the hotel grounds. The tradition continued well into the 20th century, though it shifted again during the energy crisis of the 1970s, when the outdoor lighting was scaled back, and the hotel introduced a grand indoor Christmas tree in its lobby instead.

Even so, the legacy of that 1904 moment has never faded. A plaque near the tree commemorates its place in holiday history, and the grove of century-old Norfolk Island pines on the hotel’s Founders Lawn is now incorporated into modern seasonal light displays each winter. According to hotel staff, several of those trees are now well over 100 years old and remain central to the resort’s holiday décor.

More than a Tree Lighting

The lighted tree was just one chapter in a larger story of innovation at the Hotel del Coronado. Since opening in 1888, the resort has been known for blending luxury with forward-thinking design.

Among its most famous guests was L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, stayed at the hotel repeatedly between 1904 and 1917. Baum is said to have written portions of several books while residing there and even designed the chandeliers that still hang in the Crown Room, beneath its soaring 33-foot ceilings paneled in Oregon sugar pine.

Truly Honored

Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, the Hotel del Coronado remains one of San Diego’s most enduring icons. And while holiday light displays are now commonplace across the country, the glowing tree that appeared on its lawn on Dec. 25, 1904, stands as a reminder of a moment when technology, tradition, and wonder converged — forever changing how Americans would come to celebrate Christmas.

Sources:

Hotel del Coronado Historical Archives
Coronado Historical Association
San Diego History Center
Various Newspapers (historic tree lighting coverage)
Historical Marker Database (HMDB) – Christmas tree plaque, Hotel del Coronado

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