Rich’s Great Tree

Along with the Pink Pig, Rich’s department store established an Atlanta holiday tradition in 1948 by displaying a large Christmas tree on its roof.

For more than 50 years, a pine tree up to 90-feet tall would be lit on Thanksgiving night during a grand ceremony. The tradition became one of the biggest holiday attractions in the South and even landed on the cover of Time magazine.

When Rich’s became part of Macy’s the tradition continued at Lenox Square.

After the crane snapped during the tree’s removal in 2013, a smaller, artificial tree has since replaced the once-illustrious Great Tree.

– Mark C. McDonald, Georgia Trust