The world renowned Aluminum Tree & Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum and Research Center (commonly known as ATOM) is on exhibit for the 5th time at the Transylvania Heritage Museum.  It will be open Wednesday through Saturday from Saturday, November 9 until Saturday, December 21st (except November 28th through November 29th).  Many examples of the ultimate sustainable Christmas trees that were chic in the 1950’s are included.  ATOM has been featured in Southern Living, Money magazine, the New York Times, and heard on National Public Radio, BBC and seen in many other publications who are especially in-the-know.  Revolving color wheels spotlight the tacky and outrageous.

How did this get started?  In 1991, a friend jokingly gave Steven Jackson, local home designer, tattered aluminum Christmas tree pilfered from a garbage heap. Remembering the silver tree in his childhood home, Jackson threw a party and invited guests to bring the “most aesthetically challenged” ornaments they could find. The gathering was a big hit.  The few years later, someone gave Steven a second tree unearthed at a yard sale and by 1998, Jackson owned seven. “It was just too many trees to fit in my house.” Over the years, the Aluminum Tree & Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum and Research Center snowballed as friends nabbed more trees from flea markets and dusty attics.   The current exhibit features over 2 dozen trees.