Capitol Christmas Tree

The Capitol Christmas Tree (formerly the Capitol Holiday Tree) is the decorated tree that is erected annually at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the Christmas holiday season.

A tree was first displayed in 1964, at the request of Speaker of the House John W. McCormack [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees] from the website of the Architect of the Capitol] . This first tree was a live Douglas-fir, purchased from a nursery. It was re-decorated for the next three Christmas seasons. After it died, white pines were cut down in Maryland and put on display for the 1968 and 1969 seasons. Beginning in 1970, trees have been provided by the U.S. Forest Service.

The "Capitol Christmas Tree" is traditionally lighted at 5:00pm EST on 9 December through to New Year's Day.

Trees

*2007: 60-foot Balsam Fir from Green Mountain National Forest in Rutland, Vermont [ [http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071124/NEWS/711240318 Milford greets D.C.-bound yule tree - poconorecord.com - The Pocono Record ] ]
*2006: 65-foot Pacific Silver Fir from Olympic National Forest in Washington [ [http://www.capitolchristmastree2006.org/ The 2006 Capitol Christmas Tree website] ]
*2005: 80-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Santa Fe National Forest in Cuba, New Mexico [ [http://www.capitolholidaytree2005.net/ The 2005 Capitol Christmas Tree website] ]
*2004: 70-foot Red Spruce from the George Washington National Forest in Highland County, Virginia [ [http://www.capitolholidaytree2004.org/ The 2004 Capitol Holiday Tree website] ]
*2003: 70-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Boise National Forest in Idaho
*2002: 70-foot Douglas-fir from Oregon's Umpqua National Forest [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/2002tree.cfm The 2002 Capitol Holiday Tree website] ]
*2001: 72-foot White Spruce from Ottawa National Forest in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/2001tree.cfm The 2001 Capitol Holiday Tree website] ]
*2000: 65-foot Colorado Spruce from Colorado's Pike National Forest [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/2000tree.cfm The 2000 Capitol Holiday Tree website] ]
*1999: 60-foot White Spruce from Wisconsin's Nicolet National Forest [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/1999tree.cfm The 1999 Capitol Holiday Tree website] ]
*1998: 50-foot Fraser Fir from the Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/1998tree.cfm The 1998 Capitol Christmas Tree website] ]
*1997: 63-foot Black Hills Spruce from the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1996: 75-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Manti-LaSal National Forest in Utah [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1995: 60-foot Douglas Fir from the Plumas National Forest in California [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1994: 58-foot Balsam Fir from the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1993: 65-foot White Fir from the San Bernardino National Forest in California [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1992: 62-foot White Spruce from the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1991: 60-foot Blue Spruce from the Carson National Forest in New Mexico [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1990: 65-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Routt National Forest in Colorado [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1989: 60-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Kootenai National Forest] in Montana [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1988: 50-foot Balsam Fir from the Manistee National Forest in Michigan [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1987: 60-foot Norway Spruce from the Wayne-Hoosier National Forest in Ohio [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1986: 54-foot Shasta Red Fir from the Klamath National Forest in California [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1985: 56-foot White Spruce from the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1984: 58-foot White Spruce from the Superior National Forest in Minnesota [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1983: 52-foot White Spruce from the Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1982: 50-foot Balsam Fir from the Riley Bostwich Wildlife Management Area in Vermont [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1981: 50-foot White Spruce from the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1980: 48-foot White Spruce from the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1979: 52-foot White Spruce from the Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1978: 60-foot Norway Spruce from the Savage River State Forest in Maryland [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1977: 52-foot White Spruce from the Nemadji State Forest in Minnesota [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1976: 41-foot Red Spruce from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1975: 41-foot Balsam Fir from the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1974: 41-foot Fraser Fir from the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1973: 51-foot White Spruce from the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1972: 50-foot Balsam Fir from the Tennessee National Forest in Pennsylvania [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1971: 45-foot Black Spruce from the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire [ [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website] ]
*1970: 40-foot Norway Spruce from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia
*1969: 40-foot white pine from Westminster, Maryland
*1968: 30-foot "tree" assembled from two white pines from Finksburg, Maryland
*1964-7: live 24-foot Douglas-fir purchased from a nursery in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania

Name controversy

In 1999, the "Capitol Christmas Tree" was renamed to the "Capitol Holiday Tree". There was never an explanation as to why the name change occurred, but it raised controversy in the 2004 Christmas holiday season, and especially in 2005.Fact|date=February 2007

On 30 November, 2005, the tree was renamed the "Capitol Christmas Tree" due to threats of legal actionFact|date=February 2007 and complaints forwarded from a member of the Senate to Dennis Hastert.Fact|date=February 2007

References