December, 1914. In Denver, 10 year old David Sturgeon is too sick to join his family downstairs around their Christmas tree. His father, an electrician, has an idea: paint some lightbulbs green and red, string them in a long circuit around a pine his son can see from his bedroom, and keep the tree lit through the night. People came from all around town to see the first electrified outdoor Christmas tree, and the next December, neighbors added lights to their own trees and homes.
In the 1920s, Denver's mayor allowed a light display on City Hall. By the 1950s, this annual municipal project required 25,000 bulbs and seventeen miles of wiring. It's a tradition that continues – including the stipulation that the City and County Building stay lit in a colorful cacophony of cheer well into January, to greet the stock show coming to town.
About Colorado Postcards
Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado.
