See the Evolution of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

By TIME Photo
Updated: | Originally published: ;
Travel Trip Christmas Trees
On Christmas Eve 1931, a group of construction workers erected a 20-ft. tree on the muddy site of what would become one of the city's greatest architectural and commercial monuments.Two years later, a Rockefeller Center publicist organized the first official tree-lighting ceremony.AP
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, 1934.
1934 Rockefeller Center Tree MCNY/Gottscho-Schleisner/Getty Images
1936 Rockefeller Center Christmas Trees, celebrating the opening of the ice skating rink.
1936 Rockefeller Center Trees, celebrating the opening of the ice skating rink.AP
Rockefeller Center Christmas tree 1949
1949 Rockefeller Center TreeJohn Lindsay—AP
1955 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
1955 Rockefeller Center TreeAP
1966 Rockefeller Center Tree Christmas
1966 Rockefeller Center TreeNBC NewsWire/Getty Images
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 1979
1979 Rockefeller Center TreeMarty Lederhandler—AP
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 1985
1985 Rockefeller Center TreeG. Paul Burnett—AP
1991 Rockefeller Center Tree
1991 Rockefeller Center TreeEd Bailey—AP
Christmas 1996 Rockefeller Center Tree
1996 Rockefeller Center TreeEvan Agostini—Liaison/Getty Images
2001 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
2001 Rockefeller Center TreeRichard Drew—AP
2011 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
2011 Rockefeller Center TreeHenny Ray Abrams—AP
2014 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
2014 Rockefeller Center Tree Brad Barket—Getty Images
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stands lit at Rockefeller Center during the 84th annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 30, 2016, in New York.
2016 The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree during the 84th lighting ceremony.Julie Jacobson—AP

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