NORAD Unveils New Santa Tracker for 70th Anniversary

For 70 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been a holiday staple, tracking Santa Claus as he makes his annual journey delivering gifts around the world. This Christmas marks a milestone for the joint United States and Canadian operation, which began monitoring Santa’s travels during the Cold War era when the skies were watched for threats, not for sleighs. Despite Santa posing no danger, NORAD has continued the festive tradition, delighting families across generations.

This year, NORAD has introduced a new way to follow Santa’s path. In addition to the usual phone hotline, the program’s website now allows users to make calls online, making it easier for people without access to a phone or those outside North America to join in the fun. The call center, staffed by hundreds of volunteers, operates every Christmas Eve from 4 am to midnight Mountain Standard Time, answering calls to 1-877-HI-NORAD. For callers after midnight, an Interactive Voice Response system provides updates on Santa’s progress. To make the experience accessible worldwide, virtual translation services now support over 200 languages.

NORAD's website, already active for the holiday season at NoradSanta.org, offers more than just tracking. Families can listen to holiday music, watch videos about Santa and NORAD on YouTube, shop for merchandise, and play games while keeping tabs on Santa’s journey.

The beloved tradition began in 1955, reportedly by accident. NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), was originally set up to detect possible nuclear attacks. One December, a child mistakenly called the command center asking to speak with Santa Claus after dialing a misprinted number from a Sears advertisement. Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the commander on duty, decided to play along, instructing his staff to track Santa and answer calls from children. The story goes that the first call may have reached a public line rather than the secret hotline, but Col. Shoup’s enthusiasm ensured the tradition stuck. In a 1999 interview, he recalled greeting the first caller with a hearty “Ho, ho, ho, I am Santa,” much to his crew’s surprise, and encouraged everyone to join in the fun.

By December 23 of that first year, news reports confirmed that CONAD was tracking Santa. The organization evolved into NORAD, moving its operations inside Cheyenne Mountain, with its officers protected by tunnels carved from solid granite—a reminder of its serious origins even as it continues to spread holiday cheer.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.