From Alaska to the Heart of DC: The 54-Year Tradition of the People's Tree

Often called “The People’s Tree”, every year a different National Forest is selected to provide a tree to appear on the west lawn of the US Capitol building for the holiday season.

This year’s tree came from Alaska’s Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska.

For the USDA Forest Service this has been a 54 Year tradition of providing the people’s tree.

The 80-ft tall 30 ft wide Sitka Spruce began a 4,000 mile journey from Wrangell, Alaska to the US Capitol on October 30th.

Over 3 weeks the tour will travel to the Lower 48 by sea and then by truck from the Pacific coast of the United States to the Eastern seaboard.

The tree made 11 whistle stops along the way beginning in Wrangell, Alaska.

First stop was in Ketchikan, Alaska, then Baker City, Oregon, Pocatello, Idaho, Murray, Utah, Grand Junction, Colorado, Loveland, Colorado, Omaha, Nebraska, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Columbus, Ohio, Hagerstown, Maryland, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland and finally to Washington DC.

The tree lighting ceremony on the West Lawn of the US Capitol took place on December 3rd.

The tree will remain on display until January 1st and it is lit every night from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.