Aluminum Christmas tree

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
<h3>Manufacturing</h3>
Aluminum trees have been said to be the first <a href="/facts/Artificial_Christmas_trees/a6FwztrL">artificial Christmas trees</a> that were not green in color.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1">1</a> It is more accurate to say that aluminum Christmas trees were the first nongreen Christmas trees commercially successful on a grand scale. Long before aluminum Christmas trees were commercially available at least by the late 19th century, white "Christmas trees" were made at home by wrapping strips of cotton batting around leafless branches, making what appeared to be snow-laden trees that stayed white in the home. These non-green trees made perfect displays for ornaments and dropped no needles. After Christmas, the cotton was unwrapped and stored with the ornaments for the next year while the branches were burnt or otherwise discarded. Flocked trees, real or artificial, to which flocking was applied became fashionable for the wealthy during the 1930s and have been commercially available since. A 1937 issue of <a href="/facts/Popular_Science/dE4EBW22">Popular Science</a> advocated spraying aluminum paint using an <a href="/facts/Spray_gun/upKNJy21">insect spray gun</a> to coat Christmas trees causing it to appear as if "fashioned of molten silver".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a>
Aluminum <a href="/facts/Christmas_trees/855tbXu6">Christmas trees</a> were first commercially manufactured sometime around 1955, remained popular into the 1960s, and were manufactured into the 1970s.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a> The trees were first manufactured by Modern Coatings, Inc. of <a href="/facts/Chicago/yPMokrXH">Chicago</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> Between 1959 and 1969, the bulk of aluminum Christmas trees were produced in <a href="/facts/Manitowoc%2c_Wisconsin/PjoCofle">Manitowoc, Wisconsin</a>, by the <a href="/facts/Aluminum_Specialty_Company/XIblAqvN">Aluminum Specialty Company</a>;<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a> in that decade the company produced more than one million aluminum trees.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a> At the time they were produced in Manitowoc the trees, including the company's flagship product the "Evergleam", retailed for $25 and wholesaled for $11.25.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a>

<h3>Popularity</h3>

During the 1960s, the aluminum <a href="/facts/Christmas_tree/855tbXu6">Christmas tree</a> enjoyed its most popular period of usage.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a> As the mid-1960s passed, the aluminum Christmas tree began to fall out of favor, with many thrown away or relegated to basements and attics.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a> The airing of <a href="/facts/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas/VyYXKHVv">A Charlie Brown Christmas</a> in 1965 has been credited with ending the era of the aluminum tree,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> and by 1967 their time had almost completely passed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a>
At the height of the aluminum tree's popularity, the trees were sold in the <a href="/facts/Sears_catalog/cFEFwARE">Sears catalog</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a>

<blockquote>Whether you decorate with blue or red balls . . . or use the tree without ornaments - this exquisite tree is sure to be the talk of your neighborhood. High luster aluminum gives a dazzling brilliance. Shimmering silvery branches are swirled and tapered to a handsome realistic fullness. It's really durable . . needles are glued and mechanically locked on. Fireproof . . you can use it year after year.— Sears, 1963 Christmas Book<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a></blockquote>
<h3>Re-emergence</h3>

By 1989, it was not uncommon to find aluminum <a href="/facts/Christmas_tree/855tbXu6">Christmas trees</a> for sale in <a href="/facts/Yard_sale/Tdvhz3gd">yard sales</a> or at <a href="/facts/Estate_sale/E1S7KebM">estate sales</a> being sold for as little as 25 cents.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a> In recent years the aluminum Christmas tree has seen a re-emergence in popularity. <a href="/facts/Collectible/SxRuAwUI">Collectors</a> began buying and selling the trees, especially on <a href="/facts/Online_auction_business_model/2xVr47cH">online auction</a> web sites.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a> A rare 7-foot-tall (2.1 m) pink aluminum Christmas tree sold on the Internet for $3,600 in 2005.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a>

<h2 id="design">Design</h2>

Aluminum Christmas trees consisted of aluminum branches attached to a wooden or <a href="/facts/Aluminum/7wmR8jYE">aluminum</a> central pole.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a> The central pole had holes drilled into at angles so when the <a href="/facts/Aluminum_foil/onPGU9JT">aluminum foil</a> branches were attached they formed a tree shape.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a> The foil branches had woven aluminum "needles" as well.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a> Each tree took about 15 minutes to assemble.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26">26</a>
The first aluminum trees could not be illuminated in the manner traditional for natural Christmas trees or other artificial trees. Fire safety concerns prevented <a href="/facts/Christmas_lights_(holiday_decoration)/TLo5F36F">lights</a> from being strung through the tree's branches;<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27">27</a> draping electric lights through an aluminum tree could cause a <a href="/facts/Short_circuit/r09vaaeQ">short circuit</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28">28</a> The common method of illumination was a floor-based "<a href="/facts/Color_wheel/RxVBIr7g">color wheel</a>" which was placed under the tree.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29">29</a> The color wheel featured various colored segments on a clear plastic wheel; when the wheel rotated a light shone through the clear plastic casting an array of colors throughout the tree's metallic branches.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30">30</a> Sometimes this spectacle was enhanced by a rotating <a href="/facts/Christmas_tree_stand/DYRSNEF2">Christmas tree stand</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31">31</a>
Aluminum Christmas trees have been variously described as <a href="/facts/Futuristic/c48DtBvI">futuristic</a> or as cast in a style which evoked the glitter of the <a href="/facts/Space_Age/48vLk51b">Space Age</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32">32</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33">33</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34">34</a> A <a href="/facts/Money_(magazine)/tWXUD3EJ">Money</a> magazine article published on the <a href="/facts/CNN.com/kEYsUQqr">CNN website</a> in 2004 called the design of aluminum Christmas trees "clever".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35">35</a> The same writer asserted that once the trees overcame their cultural baggage as icons of bad taste, aluminum Christmas trees were actually beautiful decor.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36">36</a> The Space Age-feel of the trees made them especially suited to the streamlined home decor of the time period.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:37" href="#fn:37">37</a>

<h2 id="cultural-significance">Cultural significance</h2>

The aluminum Christmas tree was used as a symbol of the over-<a href="/facts/Commercialization/4aatcHYn">commercialization</a> of Christmas in the 1965 <a href="/facts/Peanuts/vVtGkzuE">Peanuts</a> holiday special, <a href="/facts/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas/VyYXKHVv">A Charlie Brown Christmas</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:38" href="#fn:38">38</a> The program is considered a classic among <a href="/facts/Christmas_special/7txfI8Nq">Christmas specials</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:39" href="#fn:39">39</a> and its mention of the aluminum tree solidified the tree's legendary status while <a href="/facts/Satire/dqFS5vIL">satirizing</a> it as well.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:40" href="#fn:40">40</a> In the special, <a href="/facts/Lucy_van_Pelt/nzPn3o9z">Lucy van Pelt</a> implored <a href="/facts/Charlie_Brown/9b3dbV4M">Charlie Brown</a> to get a "big, shiny aluminum tree...maybe painted pink" for the group's <a href="/facts/Nativity_play/vEyD60hn">nativity play</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:41" href="#fn:41">41</a> Charlie Brown lamented the commercialization of Christmas and, in a lot surrounded by many huge aluminum trees (depicted as hollow cones of sheet metal, and much larger than most aluminum trees of the era), purchased a small, scrawny natural tree on a whim instead.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:42" href="#fn:42">42</a>
The re-emergent popularity of aluminum Christmas trees has allowed them to find their way into museum collections. One example is the Aluminum Christmas Tree Museum (officially known as the Aluminum Tree and Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum and Research Center).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:43" href="#fn:43">43</a> The museum, variously located in <a href="/facts/Brevard%2c_North_Carolina/7q0Nsq3K">Brevard</a> or <a href="/facts/Asheville%2c_North_Carolina/hYk6nWBB">Asheville, North Carolina</a> was called "campy" by <a href="/facts/Fodor%2527s/koAxb6VJ">Fodor's</a> in 2009.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:44" href="#fn:44">44</a> The <a href="/facts/Children%2527s_Museum_of_Indianapolis/2Pk48l8F">Children's Museum of Indianapolis</a> holds a vintage aluminum Christmas tree and color wheel in its collections.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:45" href="#fn:45">45</a> The <a href="/facts/Wisconsin_Historical_Museum/YLrU5UpD">Wisconsin Historical Museum</a> has held the "'Tis the Season" exhibition at least twice, featuring a collection of vintage aluminum Christmas trees.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:46" href="#fn:46">46</a>

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Feather_Christmas_tree/V6cpdd36">Feather Christmas tree</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Festivus/Ieq8Yex0">Festivus</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li>Brown, Darren. "<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054055/http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=9549310">Aluminum Christmas Trees Making a Comeback</a>", (includes video and photos), <a href="/facts/KWTV/RqsDHRFc">News9.com</a>, December 18, 2008, updated December 22, 2008, accessed September 23, 2012.</li>
<li>"<a href="http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/about_alcoa/pdf/AlcoaTree.pdf">How to Decorate Your New Aluminum Christmas Tree</a>" (<a href="/facts/Pdf/C9Mn1vYL">pdf</a>, <a href="/facts/Brochure/Yfl14ylW">Brochure</a>), <a href="/facts/ALCOA/857N3lgp">ALCOA</a>, 1959, accessed September 23, 2012. <a href="http://aluminumchristmastrees.net/how-to-decorate-your-aluminum-christmas-tree/">http://aluminumchristmastrees.net/how-to-decorate-your-aluminum-christmas-tree/</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/J._Shimon_%2526_J._Lindemann/Pb3FTjAV">J. Shimon & J. Lindemann</a>. Season's Gleamings: The Art of the Aluminum Christmas Tree, (<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=j3MOAAAACAAJ&q=Season%27s+Gleamings+-+The+Art+of+the+Aluminum+Christmas+Tree">Google Books</a>), Melcher Media, 2004, (<a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-9717935-3-0)</li>
<li>McKee, Bradford. "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/25/garden/25TREE.html">Dumpster, Spare That Tree</a>", <a href="/facts/The_New_York_Times/T9marWVX">The New York Times</a>, November 25, 2004, accessed September 23, 2012.</li>
<li>Georges, Theron. The Evergleam Book: 60th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, (<a href="https://evergleambook.com/">[1]</a>), Evergleam Press, 2019, (<a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-0-578-50262-5)</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aluminium Christmas trees.

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Liane_Hansen/Ndu3pqm2">Hansen, Liane</a>. "<a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1114856">Aluminum Christmas Tree Museum</a>", <a href="/facts/Weekend_Edition_Sunday/lhSUK7qt">Weekend Edition Sunday</a>, (audio), <a href="/facts/National_Public_Radio/BohIW9Xg">National Public Radio</a>, December 3, 2000, accessed December 12, 2008.</li>
<li>Martin, Emma. "<a href="http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/44255">Vintage Aluminum Christmas Trees - Caring for Your Aluminum Christmas Tree</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120426172639/http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/44255">Archived</a> 2012-04-26 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a>", American Chronicle, November 29, 2007, accessed December 12, 2008.</li>
<li>Murray, Patty. "<a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4209326">Aluminum Trees Make a Comeback</a>", (audio), <a href="/facts/NPR/BohIW9Xg">NPR</a>, "<a href="/facts/All_Things_Considered/SV9EK70J">All Things Considered</a>", December 8, 2004, accessed September 23, 2012.</li>
<li>Robinson, Tom, "<a href="http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/12/22/">Aluminum Christmas Trees Come to Canada</a>", On This Day, (<a href="/facts/Sound_recording_and_reproduction/BMbpAWkE">Audio</a>/<a href="/facts/Internet_video/XP3Xxon6">Visual</a>), <a href="/facts/CBC_Radio/nE2eokK2">CBC Radio</a>, December 22, 1960, accessed December 13, 2008.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Wisconsin_Historical_Society/9GygGYVC">Wisconsin Historical Society</a>. "<a href="http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/artifacts/archives/001924.asp">Pink Evergleam Aluminum Christmas Tree</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165322/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/artifacts/archives/001924.asp">Archived</a> 2016-03-03 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a>" (Museum object #2005.174.1.1), Wisconsin Historical Society - Curators' Favorites, December 15, 2005. Retrieved September 22, 2012.</li>
<li><a href="http://pinkchristmas.org/christmas-decorations.php">Kitsch pink Christmas decorations</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191012110852/http://pinkchristmas.org/christmas-decorations.php">Archived</a> 2019-10-12 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a> including a history of aluminum Christmas trees.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Hewitt, James. The Christmas Tree, (Google Books), Lulu.com, 2007, p. 34, (ISBN 1-4303-0820-6). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=CXdxIt-ZBFgC&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA34" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=CXdxIt-ZBFgC&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA34</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Keith, K.F., "Sprays Aluminum Paint on Christmas Tree", (Google Books link), Popular Science, January 1937, p.90. Retrieved September 22, 2012. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=dyYDAAAAMBAJ&dq=aluminum+christmas+tree&pg=PA90" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=dyYDAAAAMBAJ&dq=aluminum+christmas+tree&pg=PA90</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Pinto, Barbara. "Town Leads Aluminum Christmas Tree Revival Archived 2010-03-25 at the Wayback Machine", ABC News, December 18, 2005, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607" target="_blank">https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Fortin, Cassandra A. (October 26, 2008). "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (1958)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2008. <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Fortin, Cassandra A. (October 26, 2008). "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (1958)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2008. <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Skrabec, Quentin R. (6 February 2017). Aluminum in America: A History. McFarland. p. 204. ISBN 9781476625645. Archived from the original on 2018-12-26. Retrieved 2018-12-25. <a href="9781476625645" target="_blank">9781476625645</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Andrews, Candice Gaukel. Great Wisconsin Winter Weekends, (Google Books), Big Earth Publishing, 2006, p. 178, (ISBN 1-931599-71-8) <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OlmGjEU7qU4C&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA178" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=OlmGjEU7qU4C&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA178</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Skrabec, Quentin R. (6 February 2017). Aluminum in America: A History. McFarland. p. 204. ISBN 9781476625645. Archived from the original on 2018-12-26. Retrieved 2018-12-25. <a href="9781476625645" target="_blank">9781476625645</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Fortin, Cassandra A. (October 26, 2008). "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (1958)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2008. <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Fortin, Cassandra A. (October 26, 2008). "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (1958)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2008. <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Hewitt, James. The Christmas Tree, (Google Books), Lulu.com, 2007, p. 34, (ISBN 1-4303-0820-6). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=CXdxIt-ZBFgC&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA34" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=CXdxIt-ZBFgC&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA34</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Pinto, Barbara. "Town Leads Aluminum Christmas Tree Revival Archived 2010-03-25 at the Wayback Machine", ABC News, December 18, 2005, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607" target="_blank">https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">"A dark family secret: the artificial Christmas tree", Oakland Tribune, December 24, 2006, via findarticles.com, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978" target="_blank">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Fortin, Cassandra A. (October 26, 2008). "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (1958)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2008. <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Andrews, Candice Gaukel. Great Wisconsin Winter Weekends, (Google Books), Big Earth Publishing, 2006, p. 178, (ISBN 1-931599-71-8) <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OlmGjEU7qU4C&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA178" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=OlmGjEU7qU4C&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA178</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">"A dark family secret: the artificial Christmas tree", Oakland Tribune, December 24, 2006, via findarticles.com, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978" target="_blank">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">Lukas, Paul. "Trees Made of Tinsel Archived 2012-07-17 at archive.today", Money Magazine, via CNNMoney.com December 1, 2004, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm" target="_blank">https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">"A dark family secret: the artificial Christmas tree", Oakland Tribune, December 24, 2006, via findarticles.com, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978" target="_blank">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">"Aluminum Christmas Trees Archived 2008-12-23 at the Wayback Machine", Cool Things, Kansas State Historical Society, official site, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="http://www.kshs.org/cool2/cooltree.htm" target="_blank">http://www.kshs.org/cool2/cooltree.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:20">Lukas, Paul. "Trees Made of Tinsel Archived 2012-07-17 at archive.today", Money Magazine, via CNNMoney.com December 1, 2004, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm" target="_blank">https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:21">Pinto, Barbara. "Town Leads Aluminum Christmas Tree Revival Archived 2010-03-25 at the Wayback Machine", ABC News, December 18, 2005, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607" target="_blank">https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:22">Pinto, Barbara. "Town Leads Aluminum Christmas Tree Revival Archived 2010-03-25 at the Wayback Machine", ABC News, December 18, 2005, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607" target="_blank">https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:23">Hewitt, James. The Christmas Tree, (Google Books), Lulu.com, 2007, p. 34, (ISBN 1-4303-0820-6). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=CXdxIt-ZBFgC&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA34" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=CXdxIt-ZBFgC&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA34</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:24">Fortin, Cassandra A. (October 26, 2008). "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (1958)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2008. <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:25">Lukas, Paul. "Trees Made of Tinsel Archived 2012-07-17 at archive.today", Money Magazine, via CNNMoney.com December 1, 2004, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm" target="_blank">https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:26">Fortin, Cassandra A. (October 26, 2008). "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (1958)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2008. <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:27">Fortin, Cassandra A. (October 26, 2008). "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (1958)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2008. <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:28">Lukas, Paul. "Trees Made of Tinsel Archived 2012-07-17 at archive.today", Money Magazine, via CNNMoney.com December 1, 2004, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm" target="_blank">https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:29">Lukas, Paul. "Trees Made of Tinsel Archived 2012-07-17 at archive.today", Money Magazine, via CNNMoney.com December 1, 2004, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm" target="_blank">https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:30">"A dark family secret: the artificial Christmas tree", Oakland Tribune, December 24, 2006, via findarticles.com, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978" target="_blank">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978</a> <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:31">Lukas, Paul. "Trees Made of Tinsel Archived 2012-07-17 at archive.today", Money Magazine, via CNNMoney.com December 1, 2004, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm" target="_blank">https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:32">Pinto, Barbara. "Town Leads Aluminum Christmas Tree Revival Archived 2010-03-25 at the Wayback Machine", ABC News, December 18, 2005, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607" target="_blank">https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607</a> <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:33">Andrews, Candice Gaukel. Great Wisconsin Winter Weekends, (Google Books), Big Earth Publishing, 2006, p. 178, (ISBN 1-931599-71-8) <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OlmGjEU7qU4C&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA178" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=OlmGjEU7qU4C&dq=aluminum+christmas+trees&pg=PA178</a> <a href="#fnref:33" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:34">"A dark family secret: the artificial Christmas tree", Oakland Tribune, December 24, 2006, via findarticles.com, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978" target="_blank">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978</a> <a href="#fnref:34" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:35">Lukas, Paul. "Trees Made of Tinsel Archived 2012-07-17 at archive.today", Money Magazine, via CNNMoney.com December 1, 2004, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm" target="_blank">https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:35" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:36">Lukas, Paul. "Trees Made of Tinsel Archived 2012-07-17 at archive.today", Money Magazine, via CNNMoney.com December 1, 2004, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm" target="_blank">https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:36" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:37">"Aluminum Christmas Trees Archived 2008-12-23 at the Wayback Machine", Cool Things, Kansas State Historical Society, official site, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="http://www.kshs.org/cool2/cooltree.htm" target="_blank">http://www.kshs.org/cool2/cooltree.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:37" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:38">Fortin, Cassandra A. (October 26, 2008). "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (1958)". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2008. <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2008-10-26-0810230187-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:38" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:39">Lukas, Paul. "Trees Made of Tinsel Archived 2012-07-17 at archive.today", Money Magazine, via CNNMoney.com December 1, 2004, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm" target="_blank">https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192187/index.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:39" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:40">Pinto, Barbara. "Town Leads Aluminum Christmas Tree Revival Archived 2010-03-25 at the Wayback Machine", ABC News, December 18, 2005, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607" target="_blank">https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607</a> <a href="#fnref:40" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:41">Pinto, Barbara. "Town Leads Aluminum Christmas Tree Revival Archived 2010-03-25 at the Wayback Machine", ABC News, December 18, 2005, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607" target="_blank">https://abcnews.go.com/US/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=1414607</a> <a href="#fnref:41" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:42">"A dark family secret: the artificial Christmas tree", Oakland Tribune, December 24, 2006, via findarticles.com, accessed December 13, 2008. <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978" target="_blank">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17077978</a> <a href="#fnref:42" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:43">Priestly, Kent and Elliston, Jon. North Carolina Curiosities, 4th: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff, (Google Books link), Globe Pequot, 2011, pp. 32-33, (ISBN 076275995X), (ISBN 9780762759958). <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=2KdU-ycF-04C&dq=%22aluminum+christmas+tree+museum%22&pg=PA33" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=2KdU-ycF-04C&dq=%22aluminum+christmas+tree+museum%22&pg=PA33</a> <a href="#fnref:43" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn:46">"'Tis the Season for Aluminum Christmas Trees Archived 2012-08-30 at the Wayback Machine", Wisconsin Historical Society, Highlights Archives, November 23, 2009, accessed September 23, 2012. <a href="http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/highlights/archives/2009/11/aluminum_trees.asp" target="_blank">http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/highlights/archives/2009/11/aluminum_trees.asp</a> <a href="#fnref:46" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Aluminum Christmas tree open-in-new

Aluminum Christmas tree