

The tree must be at least 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide, but the preferred height is usually between 75 and 90 feet tall and proportionally wide.(A great history of Rockefeller Center can be found here.) Remember, 1931 was a year in the midst of the Great Depression in America.īut if all the workers could get hold of were tin cans, they were not going to let any obstacle prevent them from celebrating Christmas. This first tree was just 20 feet tall and was decorated with paper garlands, cranberries, and even a few tin cans. It is also streamed live from NBC and other live stream sources.Īlthough the first official Rockefeller Tree was lit in 1933, the very first Christmas tree at the center was erected by the construction workers who were building Rockefeller Center in 1931. If you can't make the lighting in person, it is broadcast on TV live on NBC (local channel 4) from 7 pm - 9 pm.See our post on Where to Store Luggage in New York City There are many places where you can store your bags for a few hours.


This area is not open to the general public. In the photo below, you can see people on the lower level, standing near the stage, lit in red.
