The Ellipse/ President’s Park South

The President’s Park South definitely gives the better view of the White House than the Pennsylvania side. The Ellipse is the site of the National Christmas Tree, a tradition that was started in 1923 by President Coolidge.
During the Christmas season, The National Christmas Tree is surrounded by state/​US territory trees. We went during the 2014 season and although the set up was pretty, it was still a bit of a let down to see how the trees weren’t really decorated with ornaments, just lights. The model train that traveled around the National Christmas Tree was pretty cool though.

The Ellipse ist ein Park, der neben dem White Haus, dem Besucher-​Zentrum und den Lafayette Park zum President’s Park in Washington, D.C. gehört. Er wird vom National Park Service verwaltet und wird auch President’s Park South genannt.
Als wir zum White House durch den Ellipse Park spazierten, wurde im 210.000 m² großen Park ein Fußballcamp veranstaltet. Der Fußball scheint in den USA immer beliebter zu werden. Die Teilnehmer waren mit vollem Eifer dabei.
Man kann sich heute kaum vorstellen, dass ein Teil des Parks während des amerikanischen Bürgerkriegs als Weidefläche für Pferde, Maultiere und Rinder und als Lager für die Streitkräfte der Union diente.
Am Rande des Parks befinden sich das White House Visitor Center, das Second Division Memorial, das Boy Scout Memorial, der Zero Milestone, das Butt Millet Memorial und auch der National Christmas Tree.
Die letzt genannte Sehenswürdigkeit rückt immer wieder zur Weihnachtszeit ins Rampenlicht, wenn vom Präsidenten die Beleuchtung in einem feierlichen Akt angestellt wird.
Ein wirklich schöner Park, der vollgespickt mit Sehenswürdigkeiten ist.

Every US citizen should try to visit sometime in their lifetime, mainly because of the iconic view of the White House but also to gain a better understanding of what our nation has lost over the years. While the increased need for security due to the ever-​growing number of a**holes in the world is the driver for most of the changes, it seems that a disregard for the general public shows in the current haphazard design and maintenance of the area. Oh and see all of the parking spaces around the Ellipse? No, you can’t park there. Move along.

Good place to get a shot of the south view of The White House. And also the White House Christmas Tree. But what’s with the 10 PM turning off the lights during the holiday season? Does daddy get mad if tourists are out past 10 PM to enjoy the holidays and have a look at the President’s Christmas Tree?

It would be a nice place for a walk if the Secret Service didn’t go on a biweekly (or more!) POWER TRIP and shut the place down for no discernable reason whatsofuckingever!

So, where’s the White House? Oh, it’s over there. On the other side of that closed sidewalk. And that closed road. And that other closed sidewalk. Ah. Thanks!
Better view of the White House from this side than from the other on Pennsylvania.

Stranger #1: Where is the National Christmas Tree?
Me: (points directly in front of us) That’s it…
Stranger #2: Is the National Christmas Tree smaller this year? It’s Charlie Brown status!
Me: Don’t hate on Charlie Brown!
Stranger #2: You’re right, Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree was better.
I’ve been to the National Ellipse a number of times during the 2011 Holiday Season, and have met a number of disappointed people during this time.
President’s Park really is a nice place to hang out during the Holiday. There is, of course, the National Christmas Tree, and if you’re bringing a child-​a working model train that works it’s way around and around the tree (there are volunteers specifically assigned to keep the model train working). Kids love this, and some children would prefer to be looking at the train rather then in line to meet Santa at Santa’s Workshop, which is located opposite the National Christmas Tree, near the Nativity Scene, Yule Log, and Menorah. Local performance groups provide entertainment almost nightly.
To really enjoy the Holiday Festivities, you must be aware of the following:
The National Christmas Tree that has been planted since 1978 was damaged by winds in February of 2011. The new one currently stands at about 30 feet tall.
You can no longer see live reindeer. PETA took them home.
Though coming earlier in the season to beat the crowds may sounds logical, don’t come too early, as some of the festivities may not have begun yet. The Yule Log and nightly performances didn’t begin until the week after the official Tree Lighting Ceremony.
There are no Porta Potties. Bathrooms are located inside the visitor’s center, located near the entrance on Pennsylvania Ave & 15^th St.
You must exit the way you came in.

Very rude secret service staff and trying to go during the National Christmas Tree lighting is too crazy with the crowds. Even on a random Tuesday the secret service randomly closes sidewalks where you would want to take gusts to show them the ellipse with no explanation.

Checking out the National Christmas Tree during the daytime is like It waking up Christmas morning to find all of your cookies and milk eaten and yet no presents under the tree.
Basically, you feel stiffed.
During the daytime, the tree looks tacky, frumpy, lumpy, uneven and shackled with streams of light. Far from the memories of youth, I was surprised to see that the tree didn’t seem so big after all.
Bleh.
Unless you’re a tourist and have no other time to make it down here, wait until the evening when the tree is aglow and some of the magic is there.

Phot ops for tourists, surrounded by the safety-​ensuring secret service who unanimously seem to love my puppy. This park used to be composed of four large baseball fields, and now serves to host soccer, football, kickball, rugby, and frisbee aficionados from all over the globe. Benches both in the shade and in the sun surround the green, punctuated by water fountains, all of which work, as long as you hold the button depressed for long enough… wait for it.
This is where the National Christmas tree and Menorah brighten up the place seasonally. Where are the restrooms? North east corner of the ellipse. Where are the $ 2 hot dogs? All along the eastern and western flanks of this park.
PS: If you got dragged here to see the national Christmas tree and you’re leaving disappointed (as most do), please walk a block northeast to the Willard Intercontinental Hotel
and have some hot chocolate in the Round Robin or in the lobby, where the term «lobbyist» was invented. It’ll warm you up and make you feel better about coming out this far.

As a kid, I loved going here to see the National Christmas tree and the White House. Now, as an adult, it’s much less fascinating, particularly when it’s 20 degrees out with a 15 degree wind chill. But we were already right there at DAR for the holiday concert so it just made sense to walk across the lawn to check out the tree.
It sounds like I’m not the only one who thinks the tree looks kinda funky. The smaller trees with ornaments from all of the US territories are pretty cool. They also have a manger scene, and in past years have housed live reindeer. (Were they there this year, or did I jet too early to see them??) Don’t forget to check out the giant menorah, which sat by it’s lonesome self to the side. When I went, Hanukkah had not yet started so none of the candles had been lit.
If you’ve never been, it’s something to check out during the holiday season.

Meh.
I wasn’t really expecting to see more than the White House, so the fact that I stumbled upon the National Christmas Tree was kind of a bonus. I expected more than a huge tree draped in lights (in its defense, I’m sure it’s much prettier at night).
Dear Georgia,
Next year please do something more creative than sending cutouts of the state to be ornaments on your tree.
xoxo,
David K.

It just boggles my mind as to how the National Christmas Tree can get uglier each year.
[PHOTOS]
The first time I ever came to see the tree was during my freshman year at AU during finals as a study break. Can’t say the tree has gotten any better since then. It looks like a net of lights that have been haphazardly thrown onto the tree. As a result of using netted lights, the tree actually loses any kind of tree-​shape and looks more like a tall missile with colorful lights and shiny stars.
The real highlight of visiting the tree is seeing the state/​US territory trees. Some of those ornaments were pretty cute; however, I think both of the Dakotas lost the memo on sending CREATIVE ornaments. Pennsylvania, however rocked it! (YEAH Crayola crayons, Easton PA!)

Despite being the President’s backyard (or is it the front yard? I can never remember), the Ellipse is not that special. Its a large green space.
B/​c it is the President’s back/​front yard, there are cool things here like the National Christmas Tree and the Easter Egg Roll a few times a year. I prefer the Mall.

I’ve used the public restrooms here so many times that I can’t remember. The last time here, I noticed a sign over the restroom sink: «no bathing». That’s too bad. Where will the bums wash up? The river? When I finished washing my hands, a military troupe had begun practicing parade moves on the ellipse. They had scared off the soccer players,
twirling their guns and waving bayonets.
It seems like this is a sort of no-man’s land, and no one knows how to use it, day to day… they should have paved this over for the WWII memorial and left the Mall space green.

The Ellipse — officially called President’s Park South — is most known for the place where the National Christmas Tree is and Easter Egg roll happens.
When it is not July or December, the Ellipse is a great place to take a walk and get a good view of Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial and –of course– the White House. This is a hot spot for folks to watch the fireworks on Independence Day.
This year the White House Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will be on December 7^th. There is also a «Pageant of Peace’ that includes a circle of smaller decorated trees each decorated in a different state’s theme. Get to the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion early if you want a seat for the lighting. The seats usually sell out in less than an hour.