The History of Christmas Lights
Discover the history of Christmas lights, from the holiday's origins in ancient Rome to the first electrically lit tree in a parlor in New York.
Holiday Lights Across America: 2023-2024 Festivals of Light
“Holiday lights” is a generic term that refers to the various electrical lighting extravaganzas everyone enjoys. Every year’s final weeks become an occasion to showcase nighttime lights. Seeing and beholding these country and city lights doesn’t always mean you have to be there. Certain lighting festival websites feature still and motion pictures—
Legends: James Bailey
Discover how a circus showman gave thousands of Americans their first experience of electric lighting with 21 chandeliers under the big top.
Lighting for Mood
Mood lighting harnesses color temperatures, actual colors and flexible controls to set the atmosphere within a given space.
Legends: Norman Bel Geddes
Norman Bel Geddes shaped American 20th-century design, including lighting design, leaving an iconic legacy in the arts and architecture.
April 23, 1896: Thomas Edison Unveils the Vitascope
On April 23, 1896, Thomas Edison unveiled the Vitascope, taking a major step forward in bringing motion pictures to life. Learn about this historic day and Edison's impact on technology, communication and entertainment.
Holiday Lights Across America: Commercial Light Displays 2022
This is the second of two lighting-themed articles about indulging in the magic of colorful, twinkling lights at Christmastime. As a generic term, holiday lights refers to various electrical lighting extravaganzas. But light displays during a year’s final weeks originate with celebrating Christmas with commercial displays. Festive lighting after Thanksgiv
Lights Across America: Chicago
This is the first of a series of field reports on lighting, design and architecture across the United States of America. We start in America’s great architecture and design center, Chicago, Illinois. The Windy City has much to offer in lighting. In fact, its legendary art institute’s a fabulous place to start in any season. […]
