The Smiths have a family tradition of driving to GE Lighting's Nela Park two weeks before Christmas to see their annual Christmas lights display. Of particular interest to us is seeing each year at Nela Park the replica of the National Christmas Tree (@TheNationalTree). We also enjoy discovering each year's decorating theme.
The replica of @TheNationalTree at @GELighting's #NelaPark for #GEintheCLE. https://t.co/3SC6ofJQuF #ThisIsCLE pic.twitter.com/1LLJG7G0OX
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
Cleveland Landmarks in Lights
This year, the Nela Park holiday lights display featured Cleveland landmarks. Therefore, on December 14, 2015, we decided to not only see GE Lighting's Nela Park, but also to see the holiday lighting at the landmarks themselves.
Please enjoy our holiday light photos and related tweets by scrolling down through our @sos_jr tweets and retweets:
Tonight take my family out for drive to see Christmas lights and other Cleveland lighting. pic.twitter.com/hv8bzd7FfN
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
1st visit @PlayhouseSquare's #ChristmasTree lights & @GELighting's #GEchandelier. pic.twitter.com/tIo9ixsqHI
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
2nd go to @goCMNH to view lights of @InTheCircle's #WadeOval ice skating rink & @CBgarden's glasshouse glowing green pic.twitter.com/c9YzPNLvfS
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
3rd @InTheCircle to see lights on @CLEcarousel at @CleStartsHere. Nice how they have the carousel turning at night! pic.twitter.com/F4ufqQQ0q2
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
4th see how @CBgarden is glowing green at @InTheCircle for their annual #GlowCBG. They have gr8 gingerbread houses! pic.twitter.com/gMv3SbdMEh
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
5th:Every year we see the replica of @TheNationalTree at @GELighting's #NelaPark https://t.co/5X2mHxQXX1 #GEintheCLE pic.twitter.com/WWpVayD3KT
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
President's Park is looking a lot brighter these days! Proud to have lit & designed @TheNationalTree for 50+ years! pic.twitter.com/zS5XhPFfd1
— GE Lighting (@GELighting) December 9, 2015
A look back at 53 years of lighting @TheNationalTree pic.twitter.com/yDMG8Rdz9b
— GE Lighting (@GELighting) December 3, 2015
The replica of @TheNationalTree at @GELighting's #NelaPark for #GEintheCLE. https://t.co/3SC6ofJQuF #ThisIsCLE pic.twitter.com/1LLJG7G0OX
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
This year @GELighting's #NelaPark has special #GEintheCLE lights of #Cleveland landmarks. I highly recommend U see! pic.twitter.com/HpeX0QtRsu
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
See a replica of the @PlayhouseSquare's #GEchandelier at @GELighting's #NelaPark special #GEintheCLE display. pic.twitter.com/Uc3wxMHaHX
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
At @GELighting's #NelaPark see a special tribute to @ClevePlayHouse centennial. @PlayhouseSquare #GEintheCLE pic.twitter.com/ipz69cFalw
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
At @GELighting's #NelaPark see lights representing @CleStartsHere's @CLEcarousel located @InTheCircle #GEintheCLE pic.twitter.com/VJf1KvJZIG
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
At @GELighting's #NelaPark see lights representing @InTheCircle's @goCMNH. https://t.co/XCKCtQ2JTJ #GEintheCLE pic.twitter.com/doaZKT6XYp
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
Rock 'n' roll of @rock_hall at @GELighting's #NelaPark! #GEintheCLE pic.twitter.com/JH1pMdFzWx
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 14, 2015
Didn't know this. Cool! https://t.co/SUpEpzxo1t
— Watching Paint Dry (@janemmason) December 14, 2015
.@janemmason Yes, we are very lucky in #Cleveland that @GELighting has replica of @TheNationalTree at #NelaPark for its #GEintheCLE display!
— Stuart O. Smith, Jr. (@sos_jr) December 15, 2015
Another thing off the Christmas Bucket List #geinthecle #OJChristmasYear3 https://t.co/S5QrAhY0nc pic.twitter.com/PONTsQo526
— Kellie Johnson (@KMJohnson619) December 15, 2015
And they have a Leg Lamp. #OJChristmasYear3 #geinthecle #achristmasstory https://t.co/aGtFKXnrDK pic.twitter.com/kX4lb2AEsA
— Kellie Johnson (@KMJohnson619) December 15, 2015
That area is a hidden gem. https://t.co/H70WgNdZER
— Watching Paint Dry (@janemmason) December 15, 2015
Christmas lights at Nela Park in 1941 #ThisWasCLE pic.twitter.com/vsqfSlI7hd
— This Was Cleveland (@thiswascle) December 15, 2015
National Christmas Tree - Washington, D.C.
To learn more about the National Christmas Tree, see the special website set up by the National Park Service (@NatlParkService) at: TheNationalTree.org
On the website, you will learn that General Electric designed the lighting and decorations for the National Christmas Tree for the first time in 1963 -- 53 years ago! This began Cleveland's connection with the National Christmas Tree.
We have cued up the 2015 National Christmas Tree Lighting video to the moment where President Barack Obama (@BarackObama - @POTUS) counts down to the tree lighting in Washington, D.C.:
History of GE's Nela Park
You can learn more about GE Light's Nela Park on their history web page. "In 1975 the 92 acre Nela Park was listed as a Historic Place in the US Department of the Interior's National Register."
Here is the video "Greetings from Nela Park - 100 Years of Light and Leadership | GE Lighting" from their history web page:
GE Lighting's global headquarters, Nela Park, celebrated its 100th anniversary on April 18, 2013.
Lighting History Made at Nela Park
1913: Nela Park founded
1919: Tipless bulbs perfected
1930: Photo flash lamps introduced
1933: High efficiency sodium vapor lamps introduced
1935: First Major League Baseball night game played under GE lamps
1941: GE receives patent for fluorescent lamps
1945: Fluorescent lamps brought to the market
1954: All-weather headlamps introduced
1975: Flip flash developed for Kodak film
1986: GE sodium vapor lamps light the Statue of Liberty
1989: Halogen Infra-Red Reflecting Lamp (HIR) introduced
1991: ConstantColor® PreciseTM introduced
Early 2000s: New and improved T8 system created
2001: Reveal® product line introduced