Ever Gleaming: The Enduring Love Affair with the Aluminum Christmas Tree

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(2017 What to Do) Those deliciously Jetson-y aluminum Christmas trees are back, in the exhibit Ever Gleaming: The Enduring Love Affair with the Aluminum Christmas Tree. The Aluminum Specialty Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin (then known as the “aluminum cookware capital of the world”) was the largest manufacturer of this mid-century fad, and the historical society now boasts a collection of more than two dozen of the sharp shiners.

press release: The Wisconsin Historical Museum's ever-popular holiday exhibit "Ever Gleaming: Celebrating America’s Aluminum Christmas Tree" returns for the first time in two years! Discover how Wisconsin-made Christmas decorations became Space Age pop culture icons in 1960s America, and how they now serve as a window into innovative mid-century design and nostalgic family holiday traditions. Wander through a "forest" of aluminum Christmas trees, explore the history of the Evergleam, and experience a replica 1960s living room.

"Ever Gleaming" tells the story of the Aluminum Specialty Company of Manitowoc, who introduced the Evergleam aluminum Christmas tree in 1959. In the decade that followed, aluminum trees became wildly popular in American homes, and the Evergleam was the most popular of all. This year's exhibit features original trees and artifacts, and a spotlight on the rare trees that collectors seek out today. You can step into this history and take a throwback holiday picture in a replica living room from the trees’ 1960s heyday, providing the perfect backdrop for holiday cards and Instagram posts.

Check out the online exhibit!

Cost: Included with museum admission. Suggested Donation: Adult: $5; Child (5-12): $3. Please note the museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.