Coronado in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Christmas Tree

Hotel del Coronado

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 14, 2009

1. Christmas Tree Marker

Inscription. Here stands the world's first electrically-lighted outdoor Christmas tree, unveiled at the Hotel del Coronado on December 24, 1904

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. In addition, it is included in the Historic Trees series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1958.

Location. 32° 40.884′ N, 117° 10.656′ W. Marker is in Coronado, California, in San Diego County. It can be reached from Orange Avenue. Marker and tree are located on the grounds of the Hotel del Coronado. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado CA 92118, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

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marker: The Oxford (within shouting distance of this marker); Naiad Queen (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hotel del Coronado (about 300 feet away); J.D. Spreckels House - 1908 (about 300 feet away); Dragon Tree (about 500 feet away); Laundry (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named The Oxford (about 600 feet away); Carey-Hizar House - 1889 (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coronado.

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry for Hotel del Coronado. Excerpt:

In 1904, Hotel del Coronado introduced the world's first electrically lit, outdoor living Christmas tree. From the San Diego Union, December 25, 1904:
The tree selected for the honor is one of the three splendid Norfolk Island pines on the plaza [grassy area in front of the hotel]. It has attained a height of fifty feet and its branches stand proudly forth. 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. And now that an open-air Christmas tree had been introduced, it is likely that another
Photographed by Denise Boose, August 15, 2009

2. Christmas Tree and Marker
Christmas Eve will find many California gardens aglow with light scattered from living foliage.

(Submitted on December 12, 2020.)

Christmas Tree image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 14, 2009

3. Christmas Tree

Entrance to the Hotel del Coronado image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Henry Jackson, 1905

4. Entrance to the Hotel del Coronado

This photograph shows one of the Norfolk Island pines on the property. Photo is in the History Colorado collection.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,510 times since then and 57 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week December 20, 2020. Photos: 1. submitted on December 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on March 28, 2017, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 3. submitted on December 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 4. submitted on December 12, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.