Facility Management Division ND Office of Management and Budget

History of the Window Tree Lighting The Christmas tree window lighting began in the mid 1940's using paper shades to color the north and south window openings. Plastic shades were purchased in the late 1950's and the current colored plastic shades were purchased in 1993. There are a total of 88 shades used to get the Christmas tree on both the north and south side of the building. Each side North and the South has 20 red and 24 green shades to create the tree.

As you can see the picture above the Capitol Buidling with a cross on it was taken at Easter time in 1934, but the Christmas tradition began in the mid 1940's.