Adventure 051, Site 141 – Christmas Tree Lane

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 141 – Christmas Tree Lane

California Landmark Number: 990

National Historical Number: 1990001444

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 4, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 34° 11.042′ N

Longitude: 118° 8.324′ W

Address: 2230-2282 Santa Rosa Avenue, Altadena CA 91001

Description:

Frederick C Nash in 1920 created this Christmas Tree Lane from the 135 Deodar trees planted along Santa Rosa Ave. Since that time, a mile of lights has been a holiday tradition of Altadena.

We have a Christmas tree lane in Fresno so when we saw the sign for Christmas tree lane in Altadena, Thing 1 and Thing 2 could not pass it up. This Christmas tree lane is planted the same type of tree that is planted on our street in Fresno.

As a note, Fresno has a Christmas Tree Lane, going down our Van Ness Ave, which has been going on since 1912. The Lane is about 2 miles long. Twice during the season, the avenue is closed off to traffic and walkers have a night of it. Both Thing One and Thing Two enjoy the time walking this.

NO. 990 CHRISTMAS TREE LANE - The 135 Deodar Cedar trees were planted in 1885 by the Woodbury Family, the founders of Altadena. First organized by F.C. Nash in 1920, the 'Mile of Christmas Trees' has been strung with 10,000 lights each holiday season through the efforts of volunteers and the Christmas Tree Lane Association. It is the oldest large-scale Christmas lighting spectacle in Southern California.
Location: Santa Rosa Ave, both sides of street from Woodbury Ave to Altadena Dr, Altadena



From NRHP:

Christmas Tree Lane is significant as the most prominently recognized landscape feature in Altadena. The six block double row of one hundred year old Deodar Cedar trees have been an important part of the history of the community since first being planted in 1885 by Altadena 1 s founders, Frederick J. and John P. Woodbury, as part of their ranch. The trees have attained significance because of their association with an important community event. A Christmas Tree lighting ceremony was started in 1920 as a community project and has become a major event for Altadena and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley region attracting hundreds of thousands of people from throughout Southern California and beyond for over sixty years.

References:

• Historical Marker Database (HMDB.org) - Note: the link to the founder's gravesite is in error. It goes to the wrong Nash.
  
• History of Christmas Tree Lane
  
• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)