How This Ancient Sierra Giant Became America’s Christmas Tree

Deep in Grant Grove at Kings Canyon National Park stands one of the most iconic trees on Earth, a 267-foot giant sequoia that has watched over the Sierra for as long as 4,000 years.

Today, the General Grant Tree is known across the country as the Nation’s Christmas Tree, a title officially bestowed by President Calvin Coolidge in 1926. But the story behind that name traces back to one quiet moment in the forest.

In 1924, Sanger resident R.J. Senior stopped before the towering sequoia, stunned by its size. A young girl wandered up beside him and whispered, “What a lovely Christmas tree that would be.” Her words stuck. The following year, Senior and others from Sanger held a small Christmas service at the base of the giant tree. Their tradition — later championed in a letter to the president — transformed the General Grant into a national holiday symbol.

The recognition didn’t stop there. In 1956, the tree was also dedicated as a National Shrine to America’s war dead, the only living shrine of its kind. For decades, people from around the world have traveled to stand beneath its massive 107-foot circumference trunk, joining in an annual ceremony of songs, prayers, and reflection.

The Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree now happens every second Sunday in December, wrapping up Sanger’s Christmas Festival. 2025 will mark the 100th anniversary of the tradition, with the centennial celebration taking place on December 14.

For anyone exploring California’s national parks in winter, a visit to the General Grant Tree isn’t just a scenic stop — it’s a trip into a century of holiday history, cultural tradition, and the enduring power of a truly monumental tree.