Christmas Tree Lane
Also known as: Mile of Christmas Trees
Why it's listed
Christmas Tree Lane is a six-block section of Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena, California, lined on both sides by about 135 Deodar Cedar trees and hand-laid stone gutters. Frederick and John Woodbury, the town's founders, planted the seedlings in 1885 to create a drive between their planned homesites, and ranch workers gathered stones from the Arroyo Seco for the gutters. The mature trees reach about 80 feet, and lost trees have been replaced over time. Homes along the street mostly date from after 1930. The street became known for its holiday displays in 1920, when the trees were lit for Christmas for the first time under the sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club. Crowds of cars and tour buses followed, with an estimated 150,000 viewers in 1967. The lane was listed for its link to Altadena's early settlement and for the community tradition of lighting the trees, recognized locally as a landmark of the town.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the lane is the most prominently recognized landscape feature in Altadena and is tied to the town's founding by the Woodbury brothers. The trees also gained significance through the annual Christmas tree lighting begun in 1920, probably the oldest such Southern California lighting spectacle, which drew hundreds of thousands of visitors and fostered community involvement.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90001444, listed September 13, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Santa Rosa Ave. between Woodbury Ave. and Altadena Dr., Altadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | September 13, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001444 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1920 - 1940 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Trees lost to age and disease have been gradually replaced; about 108 mature trees remain. The lighting event continues today and the street remains residential. |
| Acreage | 9.6 |
| Coordinates | 34.18838, -118.13633 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90001444.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5111451
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.