November 29 - January 3, 2020
“2019 is the 60th Anniversary of the debut of the aluminum Christmas tree by the Aluminum Specialty Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The new tree was wildly successful in 1959 and ignited the aluminum Christmas tree craze of the 1960s, and they became known as “Space Age Aluminum Christmas Trees.”
There is a fascinating history and interrelationship between aluminum Christmas trees and aviation, as the Chief Engineer, Richard Thomsen was a former legendary B-29 pilot during WW2. When Mr. Thomsen was given the tree project, he drew inspiration for the design of the many aluminum needles from his experience with “chaff” — a radar countermeasure used in WW2. Chaff refers to the dropping of thousands of tiny aluminum slivers from aircraft, effectively creating a metal rain shower, behind which aircraft could fly undetected by enemy radar. Incidentally, it is known that children would pick up these silver slivers of chaff from the ground and use them for decorations in their own Christmas trees!
The exhibit will be located on the mezzanine level of the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. The display will open the day after Thanksgiving, November 29, 2019 and run through Friday, January 3, 2020
The exhibit is based on The Evergleam Book and will include graphics along the north and south hallways of the mezzanine, a speaker with music, and a display of 12 of the most highly sought after and rarest of the Space Age Christmas Trees. Also included will be a period specific room called “The Space Age Holiday Pad” which will feature one of the trees set up in a rotating stand, a George Nelson Coconut Chair, a Saarinen Tulip end table, a couple of bar pieces from Mirro Medallion, and a Sputnik chandelier, faux (cardboard) fireplace, and 1960’s vintage holiday music…of course, all of these iconic pieces from the Space Age. The idea is to create an interactive space, where the guests can completely immerse themselves in a 1960s Space Age holiday experience.
Last year, the collection was featured at the Wisconsin Historical Museum in Madison, which annually hosts an exhibit called Ever Gleaming. Bringing the collection home to Houston to share with the public is especially relevant this year as “Space City” celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the lunar landing and all things Space Age.”
8325 Travelair Street
Houston, TX
Get directions