Retro Indy: Christmas on Monument Circle

Billie De Goyler and Debra Jo Day admire one of the hugh candles which were part of the Christmas decorations around the Soldiers and Sailors monument in 1957.

Winter in the City -- Besides a wintry blanket of snow, downtown workers were greeted by a beautiful sight on Monument Circle Dec. 6, 1962.. The Merchants Association, which footed the light bill for the Circle decorations, agreed to keep the gigantic "tree" lighted from 6:30 until 8 a.m. so that early passersby might enjoy it.

A tableau on the west side of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in 1947.

A Nativity scene with imported figures from Italy was featured in the 1951 holiday display on Monument Circle.

Christmas wonderland on Monument Circle in 1957.

A snowy morning gives the monument an festive coating in December of 1957,

A community sing session with 2,500 Hoosiers before the lights on trees surrounding the Soldiers and Sailors Monument were lit in 1956.

Electricians check the lights as they transform the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument into a Christmas tree in this 1963 photo

A merry-go-round is illuminated at the base of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument as part of the holiday decorations in 1965.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument from above. Indianapolis Power and Light and Circle Theatre in the background in this 1967 photo.

11/28/1968 -- The splendor of Christmas was reflected in the expressions of the daughters of Mr. & Mrs. Paul D. Krupp, as they watched the trial lighting of the Christmas tree and decorations on Monument Circle last night. The girls are (l-r) Kathy, 11, Linda, 8 , and Patricia, 9.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Christmas decorations included a warehouse and candy shop along with a Santa house to discuss your important list with the big man.

Bernice Fraction and Mayor Richard Lugar throw the switch to light the "World's Largest Christmas Tree" at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Nov. 24, 1973

THe lighted Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on Monument Circle as seen from the top of the Indiana National Bank Tower (now One Indiana Square) in this 1976 photo.

11/15/97 Union electricians string out the long cables wrapped in garland and lights that they pull from the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument making the worldÕs largest Christmas tree when completed. About 140 union electricians turned out to help do the annual chore of decorating the center of our fair city for the up coming Holiday Season.

Nov. 28, 1997 A fireworks display punctuates the lighting of the "WorldÕs largest Christmas Tree" at Monument Circle. Despite the rain, people waited to watch the 35th annual Celebration of lights which culminated with the lighting of the tree.

NOV 26, 1999,Thousands filled the streets surrounding The Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the Circle to see for the first time the new showcase of lights (of which there are 4,638 of them strung from top to bottom) and the festive decorations. This photo was taken from the roof of the Indianapolis Power and Light building looking north up Meridian Street from high on the southeast quadrant of the Circle.

The Circle of Lights was turned on the Monument Circle Nov. 29, 2002

The City of Indianapolis was packed full of people to celebrate the Circle of Lights and join in the celebration on Monument Circle Nov. 26, 2004, as the lights on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument exploded with color creating a Christmas tree.

Nov. 25, 2005: A full crowd of holiday fans gather together as they watch the lights form a Christmas Tree on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Downtown Indianapolis during Friday night's Circle of Lights ceremonies.

Tom Stinson, Avon, works atop the monument to attach strands of wire that support the bulbs and garland. Approximately 200 IBEW 481 volunteers worked to hand-install the 52 light strands at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday morning, Nov. 4, 2006.

IBEW 481 volunteers keep strands of garland and bulbs from dragging along the ground as they are hoisted up the monument. Approximately 200 IBEW 481 volunteers worked to hand-install the 52 light strands at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday morning, Nov. 4, 2006.

Santa waves to his fans before being escorted to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis during the Circle of Lights ceremony on Friday, November 26, 2010.

Santa is shown enjoying the festivities as he carried 7-year-old Brilye Schmitz of Coatsville, while the Soldiers and Sailors Monument was lit up and fireworks went off at the end of the Circle of Lights ceremony on Nov. 23, 2012. The stringing of the giant tree will for this year’s ceremony wil begin in earnest on Saturday, when hundreds of union electricians descend on Monument Circle to set up the display.

A glow emits off the Circle of Lights strung from the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Wednesday, December 25, 2013, in Downtown Indianapolis.

The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is lit up and fireworks fill the sky after the switch was flipped during the Downtown Indianapolis Circle of Lights in 2014.

Tom Stinson, near, and Tod Miller string lights by hanging over the side of the monument's viewing platform for the 53rd annual Circle of Lights, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015.

Two hundred union electricians and dozens of electrical contractors strung 4,784 lights and 52 garland strands, for the 53rd annual Circle of Lights, presented by the Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW #481, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015.

IMPD Mounted Police was on hand to help with the crowds during the Circle of Lights celebration on Monument Circle Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Downtown Indianapolis.

View from the top at Monument Circle, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, as 200 union electricians and dozens of electrical contractors strung 4,784 lights and 52 garland strands, for the 53rd annual Circle of Lights presented by the Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW No. 481.

At the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument, 200 IBEW No. 481 union electricians string the 4,784 lights for Downtown Indy, Inc.'s Circle of Lights presented by IBEW #481, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016.

The "tree" is lit and fireworks begin during Downtown Indy's 54th annual Circle of Lights, presented by Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW #481 on Monument Circle, Indianapolis, Friday, Nov. 25, 2016.

Josh Kaufman performs during Downtown Indy's 54th annual Circle of Lights, presented by Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW #481 on Monument Circle, Indianapolis, Friday, Nov. 25, 2016.

A massive crowd stirs after the "tree" is lit and fireworks begin during Downtown Indy's 54th annual Circle of Lights, presented by Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW #481 on Monument Circle, Indianapolis, Friday, Nov. 25, 2016.