The Surprising New York Origin of America’s Christmas Tree Tradition

You know how every December we wander through those Christmas tree lots, drinking hot cocoa, smelling that amazing pine scent, and trying to decide which tree has the right “feel”? Well, that whole experience, the entire Christmas tree lot tradition, actually started because of one man from right here in New York.

The Very First Christmas Tree Lot Began in New York

In 1851, Christmas in America looked very different than it does now. Hardly any of the traditions we know today were widely practiced but one tradition that did exist, thanks to Dutch and German immigrants, was bringing an evergreen tree into the home. As the number of German families arriving in the 1840s grew, so did the popularity of Christmas trees, especially in New York. So it makes perfect sense that the first true Christmas tree market in the entire country appeared here.

Mark Carr: The Catskills Woodsman With a Vision

The tradition of the Christmas tree lot is tradition traces back to a woodsman named Mark Carr, who lived in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. He heard about families traveling far outside town to cut down their own Christmas trees and saw an opportunity. Instead of making people find their own tree in the woods, he decided to bring the trees to the city. Carr cut down several fir and spruce trees, loaded them onto a ferry, and made his way to Manhattan with a simple hope: that people might want to buy a tree already cut and ready to take home.

A One-Dollar Investment That Changed Christmas

Carr set up his small display at the Washington Market and paid one dollar for the sidewalk space. By the end of the day, every single tree he brought had sold. Just like that, the first Christmas tree lot in the United States was born and the idea spread quickly across the country.

A Legacy That Has Lasted for Generations

Carr didn’t stop after his first tree lot. He and his sons continued selling Christmas trees in New York City for decades, becoming a familiar part of the holiday season. Records show they were still selling trees well into the late 1890s. Their simple idea didn’t just change their family’s future, it shaped the way millions of families celebrate Christmas to this day.

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So the next time you wander through a tree lot, run your hand across a branch, and breathe in that fresh evergreen scent, you’re taking part in a tradition that began with one New Yorker who simply wanted to share the spirit of the season.